It's been a bit of a busy time here. Last week I made an unexpected trip to NY to attend a funeral for my friend's younger brother. Today we are heading back to NY to help my sister with somewhat with was is now known as eldercare. I didn't expect to be so busy so soon after getting fully vaccinated and then seeing much of the nation open up.

We'll as cautious as we have been and will mask up as our comfort level indicates, but yeah, life and all its chaos, is happening fast.

My sister is a part of what is now called the 'Sandwich Generation. My mother lives with her and she is raining a 12-year-old son with her husband. She's been working from home during this pandemic and it's really been rough on her. My mother's medical needs have increased a lot in this year of the pandemic. This included a stint in the hospital followed by months of rehabilitation in an adult home.

She's home now and that means extra care is needed. She really can't be left alone in the house, at least for now. It makes it hard for my sister to spend time alone with her husband and my nephew on weekends.

So I made a promise to my sister that at least once a quarter, we would head up and give them a respite weekend. It's the least I can do since she has, through no fault of her own, been put in the position of shouldering this responsibility.

One day I hope we have a health care system that truly supports children of parents who need elder care. That support should not only include expanded mental and physical health care but also reduce the financial burden to middle-class families.

We are hitting the road in a little bit, wish us luck!

&
Raine