Lesson of the day: NEVER allow yourself to get involved with extended family on a legal issue.
It doesn’t matter if you are trying to be a neutral party. Doesn’t matter if you’re the only one who can articulate or cut through accumulated fog. Doesn’t matter if you are invited – even begged to help. It doesn’t matter if involved parties feign they have no time or are completely incapable of dialing a phone or wiping their ass…
DO NOT GET INVOLVED. Do not let them outsource a lifetime of cluster-fuckness to you. You (in this case – I) will take the fall. You will be blamed. You will give the last and worst impression to the most important person involved. No matter what terms were agreed upon in advance. It makes zero difference what was decided before you take the action no one was willing to take. You will get violated. You will get stabbed. You will be sacrificed. Those who previously were incapable of wiping said ass, will start throwing shit stained toilet paper at you.
I know these facts. Yet I still allowed myself to get sucked in. I knew better. I blame no one other than myself. It does not count that you absolutely did the right thing. What was ask of you. My mistake. Not my first. Certainly won’t be my last. But wow, do I hate knowing better and still make this mistake. I am so disappointed in myself… Nothing worse than burning your finger on a blue flame when you know blue flames are hot.
No matter who you are trying to look out for. Doesn’t matter that you know you can and SHOULD help.. Even if you’re willing to g
ive blood and accept the risk associated with the transfusion, stay out of it. The needle will be ripped from your wrist. It’s your blood that’ll be spurting on the floor… After you stop shaking from the anger, once you realize you’ve been screwed, you will have to clean up your own blood. Not extended family members blood. It will be your blood.
Resist the urge. Yes, it is the right thing but it doesn’t matter. It won’t end well for you. In this situation resist the temptation to do the right thing. Doing nothing is the BEST thing. There will be another day and a better place to give blood. The life you save may just be your own. “Please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before helping others.” – First, save thyself.