*vent*

[alittleoffkey]

Tomorrow I would appreciate everyone to breathe an extra prayer for me. :help:I just found out that after church (and I hope it's a good, inspiring sermon) I have to explain to my uncle (Dad's slightly-younger bro) that my grandfather with alzheimers does not, in fact, need a gun - without terrifying him. :confused: He lives in Texas, so he hasn't seen my grandfather in two months, and he hasn't heard half of my grandmother's stories in that time. :whack:

Apparently two "young men" wandered down my grandmother's half-mile driveway sometime this week... and their alibi (which my 5-foot-nothin', cancer-ridden, 74 year old grandmother walked out in the front yard to discern... my walker-bound grandfather in tow) was "iffy". :doh: So now he wants a gun. I don't blame the guy - I'd want a gun too... but I can't even have a gun in their house now that he's there again. And she doesn't have the strength in her hands to pull a trigger anyway (not that she knows how to shoot a gun anyway).

I'm not entirely certain how to accomplish this but (to the tune of happy birthday to you) Good luck to me! Good luck to me! Good luuuuck to meeeee, good luck to me! :rant: Where's the smiley who bangs its head against a wall? I need that one.

Unfortunately, I'm really good at upsetting that side of the family. I'm like my Mom's side, we're upfront, honest and expect that from others... Dad's side are all very secretive and get their feelings hurt really easily (and women aren't supposed to have opinions anyway:innocent:). I'm so tired of being their family diplomat... I don't know what I've done to be appointed to the job - I'm honest to a rather sharp point, and I completely refuse to pussyfoot around. I suppose everyone knows I'll get the job done quicker than anyone else would.

Anyway, that feels better! Thanks for listening to my rant - and for any thoughts and/or prayers you can offer - especially after church tomorrow. ;) I'll let ya'll know how it goes. :cool:

[JackieB]

Good luck with it. We'll say a prayer. I'd just try to be as diplomatic as possible, but stick to the important message.

[Sundays Man]

I certainly will pray for you and for peace in the situation. You got elected because you are obviously the best choice. Sounds to me like you have the respect of the family and sometimes it's hard to say what needs to be said instead of what people WANT to hear. You sound like you will say what needs to be said and stick by it. I pray you will be lead in what to say and how to say it.

[alittleoffkey]

I pray you will be lead in what to say and how to say it.

Thanks JackieB! :cowboy:

Sundays Man - that is exactly the prayer I need. Thank you. :)

[Gypsy Rose]

Good luck tomorrow- you'll definitely be in my thoughts- what a tough situation to deal with!

[PoniesRock101]

good luck! i cant think of anything to help you! GOOD LUCK AGAIN!

[TheBadLands]

wow.. what a sticky situation.

good luck alock

[Sparrk]

Ugh, my grandma has dementia so I hear where you are coming from loud and clear.

Remember, us Canadians don't have guns and we survive!

Maybe your family can all chip together and get a security system, where there is a button that is readily available as well if your grandparents really need it. A sign on the door - and at the end of the driveway - that says "This [area] is monitored by [blahblahblah] Security" should also help discourage anybody from entering the property?

And if your grandfather has health problems, a security system that dispatches help with a push of a button is a good idea.

I dunno, just another suggestion.

[WashingtonBay]

The security system is a good idea. A really good idea. A good, monitored system costs a little bit of money, but might be a good investment for a lot of security reasons, including health emergencies.

Us adopting Canadian laws on guns is not a good idea. :p

[Sparrk]

The security system is a good idea.

Us adopting Canadian laws on guns is not a good idea. :p

LOL! :cool:

[WashingtonBay]

:D

[alittleoffkey]

They actually already have a monitored security system. We got that this summer after their non-monitored system went out (my grandmother proceeded to tell everyone she spoke to, complete and total strangers over the phone when ordering her med refills, that she and her 20 year old granddaughter were stuck at the house alone, completely "defenseless" - defenseless my rump! I had a 357 under my pillow!).

My Uncle "compromised" with my father (who refused to actually discuss it, because that would require conflict - Lord forbid there's conflict :rolleyes:), and installed a lockbox in the floor of my grandfather's closet (not that either my grandmother or my grandfather could get to anything in the floor of the closet). I know the code and my grandmother knows the code, but Papa Bill does not (not that he could remember it anyway).

This was an "acceptable compromise" to my father - who has yet to actually talk about it with my Uncle. :doh: It was all very "I know! Let's stick the girl who hates stress in the middle and see what happens." :trout: I explained everything to my uncle... who was more or less not surprised.

I came home last night and immediately showered then went to bed. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers, I'm certain they kept everything from escalating to an even more unpleasant level. :cowboy:

[outriding01]

Give them a cap gun, they won't know the difference ;)

[rums_mom]

Give them a cap gun, they won't know the difference ;)


Outriding that was ingenious! There are alot of replica type cap guns that look like the real thing. Just as long as they don't point it at a law enforcement officer.

If this continues to be an issue, do not hesitate to get his doctor involved. Have the Uncle speak directly to the doctor and have the doctor explain why a person with dementia should not have access to a firearm.