Creating the holiday sob story

Yesterday I heard a brief report of bad financial news on the radio (they will be on the increase until the election and then will disappear): it seems that the elderly and/or their caregivers are now dipping into their own savings to pay for their care!!!! Isn't that what you're supposed to do? Ever hear about saving for a rainy day?

Then there was this economic horror story in today's WSJ: a woman who is flying home for Christmas (Atlanta) has decided to stay home for Thanksgiving because of "soaring" travel costs. My daughter lives 5 miles down the road and I might not see her between Thanksgiving and Christmas, either. Honestly, some people just have to invent problems.

My friend Mitzi used to spend every week-end taking care of her father-in-law. She lived in Illinois and he lived in Arizona. Beat that one!