Hello Parents, We’re Moving In!
All we need is a house with two kitchens and separate front doors
Dysfunction aside, my parents are naturals at everything that’s feel-good about life.
Not only can they turn any group of miseros into happy ravers (minus drugs and trance music), they shower everyone with hospitality, respect and food. No-one (except my sister-in-law) ever leaves their house not wanting to come back.
They have a core group of friends (five couples, ten people) who they’ve been making merry with for decades. We call them aunts and uncles because they’re that close.
But they lost the entire group during the last quarter of 2019:
- One aunt died from natural causes and her widower moved to a care home, shrinking into himself, refusing visitors
- Three uncles died from illness and their widows dispersed to various parts of the country to live with their favourite (or least offensive) child & spouse combo.
Practically overnight, their group of ten reduced to just the two of them.
Lockdown played its part in transitioning them to a quieter life but I’ve watched them become more anxious in the process. Their confidence has taken a knock and health issues are tapping on their shoulders.
