Christmas was not what I expected.

I was awakened to a phone call yesterday morning. My dad was sick and the paramedics were taking him to the hospital. I don't know what he had but it was probably something like the flu. He was suddenly sick over night and was throwing up and couldn't get out of bed. So I drove to my parents, checked on my mom who was with her caregiver and went to the hospital. He was weak but better. He slept most of the day and my brother should be bringing him home today. I will try to drive in tomorrow to see my parents.

Then my brother and I went to my nephew's house which was huge. I had never seen this new place (this is his 3rd or 4th house) and it was gigantic. My entire house could have fit in the living and dining room. It was beautiful but I don't understand why someone buys such a house for only four people. He claimed to need that much room when his brother visits. But he has to keep up the payments and I can't imagine that is easy. If he were to lose his job or his wife would, they would be in huge debt (they may be now, I don't know.) Why do people buy so much more house than they need? Why do rich people buy expensive multi-million dollar homes? Why do some rich people have to have several? There are people without any and you get people in the world who have nothing better to do with their money than buy a castle.

The snow is coming down pretty fast right now. We will have a couple of inches before it stops. I need to shovel and get the snow blower out.

One thing I noticed yesterday when talking to my brother was how much like my dad he is. Yet he and my dad, until recently, did not get along. My brother seems to see all the negative in my dad. Okay, I agree that my dad is no angel and makes mistakes. Some of them hurt people - like me. But he is our father and he did the best he could. People are not all capable of being great parents. (That is why some people should think really carefully before becoming parents.) We can only do as well as our limitations. Some of those limitations are the result of our own parents. They were out role models (like it or not). Maybe that is why I didn't want kids. I don't think I would have been very good at being a parent. I don't have patience and tolerance. I got that from my father. But I understand my dad, I think. I "get" him in a way I don't think my brother does. But my dad can still hurt when he says or does things. Isn't that the way, parents can always hurt us the worst, especially when we care for them.