Stuck In The Middle

There are lots of thoughts and comments and views on the Sandwich Generation--you know, those of us who have aging parents who require our attention and children still at home who require our attention. We're stuck in the middle. One the one hand, it's a pleasant place to be with three generations able to be close enough to learn from each other and know each other's stories. On the other hand, there's not enough sangria in the world.


I'm fortunate enough to have a momma who is still very self-sufficient. She can prepare her own food. She can drive herself safely, usually to a restaurant because even though she can prepare her own food, she prefers to let others do it for her. She is responsible enough to take her own medications at the required time, and she pays her bills before they cut off the necessities--like the cable television service that provides her with her Law and Order reruns.

Then ... there's the internet.

Source

About once a week, I get a phone call complaining that her internet is broken. As if she dropped it on the floor and now it's shattered. As if the magic internet wires go right to her house and then break off like a dead limb in the first storm of spring. As if Mark Zuckerberg pulled the plug on her own personal screen of the internet. Yeah, yeah, yeah--I know. Mark Zuckerberg only created Facebook, but that's really what we're talking about here. No offense to Al Gore.

But, I felt the squeeze of being in the middle of the technological sandwich last week when my Aunt Kay sent an email to me ... and my own momma.

Aunt Kay wrote: I'm so sorry I won't be able to make it to your show. I'll be going on a trip.

My mom emailed me--JUST ME: Where are you going?

I forwarded it to my Aunt Kay and included my mom with this message: My mom didn't hit reply all--Whoops! 

Aunt Kay emailed me--JUST ME: I'm going to Europe.

I forwarded it to my own momma and included Aunt Kay: She's going to Europe. She didn't hit reply all.

My own momma emailed me--JUST ME: Who are you going with?

I forwarded it to my Aunt Kay and included my mom with this message: See below.

Aunt Kay emailed me--JUST ME: Connie and Rich.

I forwarded it to my own momma and included Aunt Kay: HIT REPLY ALL.

My own momma emailed me--JUST ME: Have fun! Tell Connie and Rich hello.

I forwarded it to Aunt Kay and included my mom with this message: FOR THE LOVE--REPLY ALL!

Aunt Kay emailed me--JUST ME: Will do. Love you--see you soon. I'll call on Mother's Day.

I forwarded it to my own momma and included Aunt Kay: If you hit reply all, a magic genie will come from your computer screen and grant you three wishes. If you don't hit reply all, your daughter/niece's head will explode.

My own momma emailed me--JUST ME: I'll give you a call on Mother's Day if I don't hear from you. Love you, Sissy.

I forwarded it to Aunt Kay and included my mom with this message: Your future nursing homes will not have wi-fi. Just sayin'. 

On Mother's Day, I called my own momma. "Have you talked to Aunt Kay, today?"

She paused and then said, "No. Was I supposed to?"

Not enough sangria in the world, my friends.