Our office participates in Salvation Army's adopt a family every Christmas, and their situations are usually real tear jerkers. Last year we had a lady with four kids who lost her husband to a motorcycle accident. This year I'm feeling less than charitable. The family consists of refugees from Iraq who got here a few months ago. Mom and dad are middle aged but can't/don't work apparently because of back injuries so the oldest son in his 20s is providing support for the parents and two younger siblings. I think I will still get the little dude the bike he wants because he's in a crappy situation that's no fault of his but damn, I'm bitter that Uncle Sam will support them for the rest of their lives. I hope those kids grow up and cure cancer or something.
