So the latest report has come out; the PM wants us to work longer (i.e. retire later) and the economy will be ruined because there will be so many of us and none of them (i.e. taxpayers). And you can see it already: I am only a few years away from retirement (already a senior ... cheap public transport and movie tickets) and both Mum and Dad are still with us and living independently with only the most minimal support from the system (no daily nurses or care workers or anything) - two generations living as senior citizens and I belong to the biggest bulge of population - the baby boomers. So in light of all that I tell a story that was told to me many years ago by some Somalis. What you need to remember is that Somalis belong to a culture where old age is revered and families look after their own... but as well Somalis have a wicked sense of humour. So ...
An old father was getting too weak to look after himself and so went to live with his son and his son's family. The old man had lost his teeth and so his food had to be cut up finely and mashed for him to eat. Hi Daughter in law complained about the extra work but ...
As time went on he became shaky and broke several dishes so he was given a wooden bowl for his food which was reduced now to a sort of pap. Because he was shaky on his pins he didn't always make it to the latrine on time and then had to be helped with washing. All in all he was becoming a real nuisance. The son was tired of the extra work and came up with a plan.
He found a very large basket and one evening he picked up his old father and put him in the basket. Hi little son asked him what he was doing. He told his son that he was just taking grandfather for a walk up the mountain. The little boy nodded and said "Don't forget to bring back the basket". The father stopped in the doorway puzzled and asked his son what he meant.
"Well I will need the basket later when you get old" replied the little boy.
