Saying Sorry

Why do old people find it so difficult to say 'sorry' if they need to and when they say it to mean it?

Who are the 'old people' ?- yes I know I am old too, but sometimes, just sometimes I want those that are, let's say, about ten years older to acknowledge the fact that their age do not give them cart Blanche to just say and do anything and then just expect the younger person to accept it and let the wrong just become a bygone.

So often they want to give some expensive gift when a apology that is what it is meant to be, would be enough. I am old, but I am not stupid, and in a house where there are only two people and something is broken, to own up to it and to say sorry and mean it can do so much to to set the path for a total lapse in memory with the injured persons mind!

When our children are small we make such a point of teaching them to always tell the truth and yet, when we get old that is the first thing that we forget. The stories become so distorted from the truth and the tales get bigger with each telling. I find it difficult because I was there when that happened... at least most of the time. Either they out and out deny that they had a hand in the mischief and that they have no, oh yes, absolutely no knowledge of it, or they look around for someone to blame, which can be anybody from the cleaner to the Grandchild, or you.

Coming from a legal environment I find it so difficult to live comfortably with a lie. And more so if that lie disrespect my space in life. Every person has the right to have some privacy, some things that belongs to just that person, be it thoughts or property, be it feelings or longings and even in an ordinary household one should respect that. The fact that I do not use my pen everyday does not render it a community pen, it still belongs to only me.

My father taught me that you do not open a letter unless it has your name on the envelope and the same goes for anything on my desk, whether it is a pen or a PC, a letter or a CD, if it is on my desk it is mine.

I need my space in life, and I expect family to respect that too.

Only if you respect the sanctity of privacy when dealing with other people do you have the right to claim that they do so to you.