Well, then. (Part 7,842)

[featherynscale]

While we were at the movies on Saturday, my father called and left a message on my voicemail. The recording quality was not great, but I was pretty sure he said that I should call because my sister had had a baby. And I thought to myself, "Self, you just saw said sister, and she didn't look pregnant then, so that can't be right." And then I thought further, and determined that when I "just saw" her was actually at her wedding, last June. This line of inquiry led quickly to "Dammit, that's probably true then."

So I did what I normally do when I don't want to face up to things. I didn't call back. My state of engineered ignorance lasted until this morning, when I got an email from my father. As it happens, I did get it partially wrong. She's having the baby in May.

Now, my sister is an adult, and can do whatever she wants. But she was in school, studying to be a veterinarian. She loves animals, and has her whole life. Ever since she could form concepts about careers, she has wanted to be a vet. Her whole life, she has wanted to be a vet. And she didn't have that much more school to go. Guess what's not going to happen now.

But it's okay, I'm told, because her husband will support her. She doesn't have to finish school and go on to do what she's wanted to do her whole life, because Mike will take care of her now. Daddy took care of her until she got married, and now Mike will take care of her, and her goals are irrelevant. No matter that she was the only one of our generation that had any kind of serious goals. The relatives are thrilled for her.

Yark.

Comments

[sannion.livejournal.com]

If that's what she wants ... uhm ... good for her? But still ... uggh. Just uggh. I've never understood why women will do that.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

My bet's on stupid, and/or bowing to social pressures. And if it were physically possible for men to do the same thing, I'm betting a lot of them would too.

[sannion.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. I have no doubt of it, whatsoever. Hell, I even gave up my writing and spirituality to a large extent in order to care for my girlfriend and her child. At the time, that seems so much more important to you. But eventually, those other needs grow unmet and begin to tear you apart internally. It's not a pleasant situation, by any means. I wish there was an easier balance.