Aunt Sandy Has Cancer, and I Don't Care

[enthymeme]

Call me heartless, because I probably am.

I talked with my mother on Sunday, and she let me know that my Aunt Sandy got diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. She's my step-father's sister, but they've been in my life since I was small. Anyway, her entire family is in total denial that this woman in her early fifties is likely going to die of cancer

Comments

[anonymous]

I'm so sorry you've reached the jaded point. I've been there for a while on some things, but on others I am still hopeful. I agree that terrible prognoses don't suddenly make someone worth being around. Especially since there is a 1 in 3 chance for women to get cancer and 1 in 2 chance for men. Unless the diagnosis triggers a self-evaluation on the part of the patient, there is no reason to suddenly forgive all their transgressions without so much as an apology from them.

Emotional Energy

[anonymous]

There's something to be said for the instinct of being stingy with one's emotional energy. After all, it's precious and it's finite.