The Guilt Card.

I have one grandparent left, my Dad's mom. She's 90, had six kids, wife of a coalminer, and has twenty grandkids (not counting spouses or the grandchildren's children or great-grandchildren's children).

Of the twenty grandkids, I'd say that my Sister and I live further away than all but 3 of them.

And of those twenty grandkids, my Sister and I make a point to visit her, unlike pretty much all the rest of them. Now I can say that one grandkid lives on the street next door, and he does mow her grass or plow her driveway. Another one comes over to get fed (never mind that he is probably 450 lbs if he's an ounce, it's not like he is starving, by any means) and to bring his children to get fed.

So, quick math here, 4 out of the twenty grandkids actually see her.

Over Christmas I did not make it to my Grandma's house. Yes, I should have, no I did not make time.

Yesterday a card comes in the mail. My Christmas card. It states: "This is late because you didn't stop by."

Never let it be said that a 90 year old doesn't know how to play the guilt card. She is a consummate professional at guilt.

It is times like these that I wonder just how many of my cousins got a card like this from her. Was it just my sister and I? Or did the remaining 18 get theirs too?

Sigh.