Monday, May 4, 2009

Who will save the seniors?

We: a twenty-something couple living in an over-priced, studio apartment with our golden retriever, just on the verge of the rest of our lives.
They: an eighty-something couple living in an over-priced, one-bedroom apartment, just on the verge of rebuilding the rest of their lives.

It was time for Brian to go to work, as a cook at a Ninety-Nine restaurant 20 miles away. He had the late shift tonight; it was about 4:30 in the evening. He wouldn't be home until late, which was okay since he'd slept until noontime. Plus, at his age, he had enough energy to work until midnight, or later.

It was the weekend, and I, having the weekends off, was still unsure of what the night held for me. I thought it a good opportunity to walk Colby down the four flights of stairs outside so he could go to the bathroom, while also being able to see Brian off. He stood at the driver's-side door of the Saturn we shared for a couple of minutes, asking me what I was going to be doing that night. I answered unsure, never having been one to make plans. We smiled at each other, kissed, smiled again, and he drove off.

During this I noticed the eighty-something couple. It looked like the husband was also working the late shift, as a cab driver. She had walked him downstairs too, and she stood next to the driver's-side window as they shared a few last words for tonight. He slowly backed his cab out of the driveway, and pulled away. His wife stood there until he was out of sight, then slowly turned to make her way back to their apartment.

Whether she was just tired or sore from old age, she carried an air of defeat back to her building. The weight of the world seemed to be on her shoulders, as it seems to be on the younger generations', but ours are stronger and have yet to wield all which they will.

This government has successfully ruined our senior citizens, and it is up to us to help.

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