Dead End
My dad's been down since his boss asked him to retire last week. He's always defined himself by his job and now he doesn't think he has anything to do with his life. Of course I'm the complete opposite - I've tried to define myself by everything but work. I have more hobbies and interests than one person could ever explore in one lifetime. I rarely get bored because I can entertain myself.
My dad has always been incapable of entertaining himself. His favorite passtime is harassing people and he gets annoyed because I ignore his teasing. Fishing and hunting are his other hobbies but he can't do either in his present condition. Watching Fox News seems to be his only hobby now.
I sympathize with his situation but I don't have any solutions. He wants to move in with his 20 years younger gf and have her care for him but since she is already married that's not possible. He's talked to her about moving to the town were she lives so they can at least be close but she hasn't given him a definitive answer. I'm not sure that even if she were single she would want to live with him. It's not my place to ask what her intentions are but when his house sells she is gonna have to give him a straight answer.
Frankly I'm tired of the whole mess. I'm tired of making other people's problems my own. My sister called me yesterday with a sob story about needing $350 for a prescription and she wanted me to ask dad to give her the money. I should have told her to ask him herself but she was crying and she is good at manipulating people.
I came to help my dad because I felt like I owed him something for helping me last summer. The thought of anyone suffering alone also bothers me. But I can't keep putting other people ahead of my own needs. Being here has already cost me my chance at teaching this year.
My dad wants me to drive him back to Oklahoma and stop in Kentucky to see his gf on the way. I love road trips but I the thought of being in the car with him for that much time makes me cringe. I don't like to disappoint people but I just don't think I have it in me now. I need to learn to say no.