My Parents Are Acting Like Children!

[Mermaid]

Or maybe I should say Teenagers. Stubborn, willful, irresponsible and maddening!

They live in Naples. You know Naples, don't you? That balmy little city on Florida's gulf coast that's right in the path of Wilma.

They won't leave.

I've been on the phone constantly, as have my brother and two sisters, all begging them to get out of Naples. They could go to our place in Seagrove Beach or they could go to my brother in Atlanta.

But they won't.

My mother's saying dumb things like "I've always wanted to see a hurricane." My father is saying "We'll see how it goes; don't worry, we have the weather channel on."

Is this what people who live in hurricane territory do? Think that they can ride out the storm? Or is it only the insane ones like my parents? I just got off the phone with my sister and complained that "I" feel like the heavy, yelling and begging and pleading with them, and you know what she said to me (and it's painfully true!): "Well, you know they know we're all too far away to haul their sorry bottoms out of Naples." And then she said she was going to call our mother and father and ask them please to have their wills handy, just in case. I have to say it sounded so awful that it was funny.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Oh No! That sounds awful! Maybe I should get PawPaw to call them!

 

[Rudyjohn]

Ask them to write their ss # in indelible marker on their person somewhere. That might scare them. Is this their 1st hurricane? The last I heard, tho, was it will be downgraded to a cat. 1 by the time it hits FL. That's not much more that a t.s.
Good luck. Both of my parents are no longer living but they would've been the same way. They used to just laugh at me! Like I was still 8 years old - - what could I have possibly told them that they didn't already know!?!! It is maddening.

 

[JB]

It's always the folks who have never been through one before who have this philosophy.

My prayers for you and yours that they don't end up regretting their decision. If the eye comes ashore south of Naples, they should be OK.

 

[Mermaid]

Yes, this is their first hurricane, and yes, Sueshore, your PawPaw could talk some sense into them! Wilma could go either way--slow down and not be catastrophic by the time it reaches Naples, OR it could speed up and wham them. According to the latest report, they weren't sure. Remember how it was with Katrina, and we didn't know if it was heading for our beach or NO? Same thing with Wilma.

My sister said this was payback time for all the grief we kids gave my parents when we were young, not listening to them and doing our own thing. Now the table's turned! I don't think it's fair! I have teens at home and now I have to worry about "aging" teens down in Naples. Grrrr!

 

[Miss Kitty]

Yes, this is their first hurricane, and yes, Sueshore, your PawPaw could talk some sense into them! Wilma could go either way--slow down and not be catastrophic by the time it reaches Naples, OR it could speed up and wham them. According to the latest report, they weren't sure. Remember how it was with Katrina, and we didn't know if it was heading for our beach or NO? Same thing with Wilma.

My sister said this was payback time for all the grief we kids gave my parents when we were young, not listening to them and doing our own thing. Now the table's turned! I don't think it's fair! I have teens at home and now I have to worry about "aging" teens down in Naples. Grrrr!

Welcome to the Sandwich Generation!

 

[Rita]

Sorry Mermaid... . But it sounds like for now they've made their decision. Do they have friends around that are also staying? have they asked their area to evacuate?

 

[Miss Kitty]

DId I hear there was a mandatory evac for Naples?

 

[Mermaid]

Okay here's the latest. My parents are still in Naples and they have no plans to go elsewhere. My mother called less than an hour ago but we were watching the movie Erin Brockovich. It was just getting to the good part so I didn't stay on the phone. I mean, it's not like I don't know where they are. Plus I am so hopping mad at the two of them that the movie was a good excuse not to say anything. I have the distinct feeling that my mother thinks this is a big adventure and it just disgusts me because that's not the way I feel at all. I think they're being irresponsible and selfish to willfully put themselves in the possible pathway of harm.

Sorry for the rant but I never expected to be the daughter of two 73 year old thrill-seekers. Like I don't have enough on my hands being the mother of teenagers.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Mermaid....what is the latest on your rebel parents? I forgot to mention earlier that one of the most important reasons PawPaw evacuated was because of the fallout AFTER the storm hits. No electricity for extended periods of time is truly NO FUN!