I just returned from Cincinnati where I was there to celebrate my dad's birthday.  You know, the soul-hipster artsy son flies in to cook up Quinoa Vegetable Paella and Roasted Pear for his Pops like he's fresh from a Top Chef elimination. But I believe in clean eating and if had one wish my family would relieve their colons of a burdensome meat and frosted cake diet and think quality, not longevity.  However, I offered my meal and the fam ate with a smile.  All was good. Until my father's nephew called asking to borrow six dollars.  I couldn't believe it.  First, it was my dad's birthday.  Can the man sit back, relax and celebrate his birth?  Secondly, who in their right mind borrows six dollars and then needs the money brought to them?  At the age of 46?

Of course one would say a coke or heroine addict.  Or one of those aimless, derelict men families [and the media]  like to demonize.  I certainly had my litany of insults ready and aimed.  A 46 year old viable brother borrowing chump change translated into a big old loser and I was embarrassed.  I was ready to call him back and tell him to pick up his bootstraps and high-tail to Vegas where jobs were plenty.  But then my dad mentioned the nephew needed the six bucks to get to a painting job.  A job where he was certain to make enough money to repay the loan early next week. Wow.  Gas money.  The nephew needed gas money.  And why wouldn't that be an issue.  It's 3.60 a gallon.  Besides, the Adkins family reunion had been cancelled for the summer due to the economic pinch.  There was even mention of a few annual social events that had severely reduced attendance due to the price of gas and folks being "cautious".  The nephew, I believe, was experiencing the same setback.  

I was humbled.  My foot smack-dabbed in the mouth. 

What I didn't mention was this particular nephew had a history of obstacles.  A few arrests, unemployment, and a case of scoliosis that led to prescriptive meds that led to abuse of those meds.  But lately he's been on what they call "the good foot".  Making every effort to maintain a job, be drug free [which of course means out of the radar of the Cincinnati police].  But it's this latest tug on our national economy that's forcing the nephew to retreat.  After all the effort he's put into picking up his momentum, the price of gas is forcing him to beg for what was once a measly six dollars.

There's certainly a lesson for me in this.  Everyone's not celebrating birthdays with Veggie Paella.  Some are actually scouring their sofas for gas money.