Joining the Sandwich Generation

I had loads of things lined over the last few weeks but my inauguration into the Sandwich Generation took precedence. Now as much as I would wish that the moniker of Sandwich Generation meant that I was a fully paid up member of the Prêt à Manger elite, it describes those of us in our fifties (well late forties for me!) and sixties with care obligations at both ends of our families, our parents and our grandchildren.

My parents still strive to be independent and although my dad is not as hale and hearty as he used to be, holidays are still an important part of their lives. They chose a European Viking River Cruise as, in their heads, it presented less risk if one of them fell ill because and I quote ‘You can always see the bank of the river and therefore civilization’.

All was going swimmingly until my father succumbed to a nasty water infection. Water infections send people doolally, fact. Water infections also land your 79-year-old father in hospital. Cue my mercy dash to support my mum and make sure we got Dad back to the UK in one piece.

A one hour Easyjet flight to Hamburg does not allow you enough time to remember all of your schoolgirl German although bizarrely a quote by Bertolt Brecht did keep popping into my mind but I questioned the usefulness of being able to say ‘the law is an ass’ when talking with doctors about my dad’s health.

I do feel I need to apologise to my parents as I bossed them around for three days getting them organized with flights and hotels, as well as, and please friends do not faint at this; a very successful shopping trip for my dad in C&A. Now I remember how exotic C&A felt in the seventies and early eighties in the UK; my advice treasure the memory of your outfits from Clockhouse and don’t try to relive it!

Image courtesy of C & A

But two things struck me from the experience – firstly I had never travelled abroad without a return ticket booked and no sure idea when I would return, there is a real sense of being in limbo. The second point is when you take the city sightseeing bus, make sure get on one that does an English commentary, I can confirm I know my ‘rechts’ from my ‘links’ but beyond that over the 90 minutes the tour took I could only come to the conclusion that Hamburg looks a very pretty city.

Two weeks later and I was put in charge of my adorable 21 month-old granddaughter Miss I, well when I say I was in charge both Miss I and I know the real truth….. but what happens in Amersham stays in Amersham!

So May was taken up with family stuff and you know what, my support was needed and I loved the fact that I could give myself wholeheartedly to both ends of my families, be it repatriating the Hamburg Two (as I jokingly called my parents) or playing house with Miss I and her Minnie Mouse vacuum.

#Illness #Travel #Clothing #MissI #Mum #Dad #Easyjet #SandwichGeneration