DEAR CRABBY,

I have a cousin, 'Georgia', whom I've been close to ever since we met at a family picnic about 10 years ago. I have helped and supported her through many situations, including her divorce and babysitting, even a major move. I've known she was taking anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety pills, and have never seen her without their calming influence. She always seemed normal and we got along fine.

Georgia quit taking the medication (out of the blue) a couple of months ago, and now no one can stand her. She insults everyone, even her own mother, embarrasses us if we are out with her, and in general has become very rude and offensive. None of her friends or relatives can make her see how awful she is now. She's getting worse and we can't take it anymore. How do we get her to level with her doctor and get back on the meds?

DISLIKES UNPEACHY GEORGIA

DEAR DUG,

You know what an intervention is? It is where you all gang up on her and imprint on her warped little mind what a pain in the pants she is. Then you show her a tape of her unloading on some fragile first-day waitress and the restaurant manager going to call the police while you all ran out of there without paying, throwing her into the car and taking off like a bunch of chickens at a barbeque to avoid her being arrested and put into a cell with a large overly affectionate woman named Ralph.

Since it would be tough to get a mean matronly relative to hold her down and force her medication down her throat, you might want to have her children help in making little vignettes, telling mom how scared they are of her. Remind her you have copies of this tape and will use them if you have to. You can also show her some shopping cart ladies' photos and tell her this will be her Drivers' license picture if she doesn't get back on the meds,,,

I have no other suggestions except maybe to dress up like a clown next time you go somewhere with her. Tell her if she is going to act crazy, then you might as well look the part (and not be 'seen' with her).

DEAR CRABBY,

I have a 16-year-old son that has a job bagging groceries. Today he came home and said a woman he had carried groceries for called him a failure and told him he'd always be a failure. At his age, it nearly brought him to tears. He said, "She wanted me to pull things out and re-arrange her whole trunk because she didn't want the groceries inside the warm car. We were really busy so I told her I had to get back. Then she just screamed at me."

Crabby, don't you think that woman should have cleaned out her trunk before going to the store? And if she had a problem with an employee (especially a minor), wouldn't the proper procedure be to go to the manager instead of screaming at the employee in the parking lot? My son was obeying the cashier, and not hired to move heavy objects from trunks. He has a hearing aid and very thick glasses and is ridiculed enough at school. In spite of everything, he gets good grades, has been employee of the month twice, and trains the other courtesy baggers. I am proud and confident that he will be successful in everything life offers. What is with that woman and those students at my sons' school?

BEAMING MOM

DEAR BEAMER,

Ask your son if the woman was with someone in a Clown suit.

crabcakes@sitnews.org

 

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