Gary's uncle Victor will be eighty years old in March. He's never been married, has no children, and lives alone in Florida.
He's set in his ways.
Every evening at 6 PM he turns on the Sci-Fi channel. At 8 PM he has ice cream. He has emphysema and takes his medications and inhaler at the same time every day. He goes to the OTB every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. He eats at Arby's every single Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday he eats at the Golden Coral. Sunday he eats dinner at home. He always carries $5,000 cash on him and gets angry if someone tells him he shouldn't.
Gary was in Florida last week with him. One of the reasons he went down was that Victor was sick and needed help in going to the doctor and getting some tests run. Another reason is, Victor buys a new Buick (pays cash) every five years and he gives Gary his old one.
Gary's father always looked after Vic, so after he (Gary's dad) died suddenly in '06 Gary stepped in. It's a sad world, but many people will take advantage of an older, naive, person and think nothing of it.
A few weeks ago one of the workers at the Golden Coral came to his house (Vic had given each Golden Coral employee money in a card for Christmas, and had put his return address on the envelope... that's how this guy found him) and asked Vic to loan him $250 to pay a fine. Vic felt sorry for him and loaned him the money. While Gary was there, the guy came by to repay the money he owed him. Instead of writing the check out for $250 he wrote it out for $350 and asked Vic to give him another hundred dollars. ???
Can someone say SCAM ALERT ??
Luckily, Gary was there and said "No way!!"
He explained to Vic later that this guy was taking advantage of his goodheartedness.
As for the check to repay what the guy had already borrowed - it was first 'insufficient funds' then a 'stop payment'.
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| Uncle Vic and Gary |
Yesterday we went to see Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close. What a great movie!! It's about a young boy who lost his dad in the 911 tragedy, and how he deals with it.
Don't forget tissues...
On the way home we passed a house with about half a dozen police cars out front, carrying guns and looking like something was coming down. It was.
It seems a young man entered an elderly lady's home
(80 years old), assaulted her (breaking her hip), and robbed her. From what I understand, it was
about getting money for drugs.
People who mistreat the elderly are pathetic.
On a happier note....
And speaking of the elderly...
Has anyone seen the new Betty White show called 'Off Their Rocker'?
It's a hoot!
Hope you've had a great weekend!
This is so sad when people take advantage of the kindness of people who truly think they are doing the right thing. I'm glad that Gary was there, and I hope that it doesn't happen again!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're doing well, and are staying warm!! :-)
Nothing makes me angrier than for someone to take advantage of the elderly or disabled. I'm thankful your husband was there to advise his uncle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us about the movie and the Betty White Show. Hope you have a nice week. Hugs to Gracie!
Mom Kim here - AMEN to all of that. I am so glad your hubby was there to stop Victor from taking that $350 check and Victor giving the guy another hundred. Many elderly remember what most people were like when they were younger - a man's word could be trusted. Maybe if that man is also elderly but the minute you said that the guy had written that check for $350 and asked for a hundred bak - scam was the first thing I thought of. Here in town we are always hearing on the news about people scamming the elderly and we also have elderly being assaulted.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first bought this house ten years ago (it was in November) the next summer I made sure to get the big bushes in front of my window yanked out and thery is a dead bolt on my door. I got a few years before my "golden years" but I want to make sure I get there. And my two dogs are a better security system then you can buy - they may not be so big but if you could hear them, especially Shiloh, you'd have no idea he's NOT an attack dog.
What depressing stories, it's a real good thing Gary was there to protect his uncle!!!! The last Betty White I heard of was Hot In Cleveland. Do you know how old I am?? I used to watch her shows on T.V. when she first started!! She had two, they were my faves. "The Betty White Show", and "Life With Elizabeth" The last one was kind of like "I Love Lucy."
ReplyDeletewhat agreat post, sad but true,
ReplyDeleteIs the Uncle going to be ok when Gary comes home? I would be pretty worried and I'm sure you guys are.
ReplyDeleteYou hear about the elderly getting scammed all the time, it really is sad.
Was going to watch Betty, and then forgot. She reminds me so much of my mother.
First off, let me say, Uncle Victor is a very nice looking man for his age! I guess good looking men must run in the family, as your Gary is a looker (not lusting, just calling a spade a spade, lol!).
ReplyDeleteMy mom is 77, and still very much in her right mind. Yet, she's been duped by people who conned her into giving them money. Her problem is she's too big hearted and trusting. You can't be with them every minute, so all you can do is pray over them...a lot (just like they did over us when we were younger).
How horrific for that elderly woman who was attacked. The elderly are so vulnerable when they live alone, and yet I understand them not wanting to release their independence by moving into a 'home' or with a relative. Growing old is often a very sad thing. :-(
Uncle Victor is lucky your hubby was there to help him thwart that con artist. Too many folks do take advantage of the elderly. There have been seniors robbed and beaten around here too. They are an easy mark. So sad but true. My dad needed his computer fixed and the guy who did it charged him the price of a NEW one. It was RIDICULOUS. We are old, my hubby especially. I worry about someone taking advantage of us. At Christmas that worst fear was realized when someone stole $1000 from our bank account. You can NEVER be too careful. Take care.
ReplyDeleteSure glad someone is taking care of the uncle! Hope things will be OK after Gary leaves though!
ReplyDeleteOh that makes me mad to hear about our older loved ones being tricked out of their money! It happened to my Dad a couple of years before he passed away! He kept his wallet on the kitchen table... a couple came to his house, the lady chatted with him while the man came in the back door and took his money out of his wallet! I was furious and of course they were never caught! So sad that there are people in this world that are just SO mean!
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of those two handsome fellas:) I know that they enjoyed their time together! Have a blessed day dear Bobbi, HUGS!
Wells dat just makes me sick and pisses me off...ooops...sorry. Ummm, anyways, I thinks it's just so sad dat Vic was just tryin' to be kind and wantin' to helps da boy. Then BAAAAAM...money hungry grubber takes advantage of him, prolly thinking he'd never get caught.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, we see stuffs likes dis on da news all time and in da papers.
What is happenin' in our society?
Puddles
PS: I am so glad Vic can depend on da Gary Man.
That is so outrageous! Taking advantage of an old man's generosity. I just hope no one ever finds out about all that cash he's carrying.
ReplyDeleteMy Mother was taken advantage of too!!! He got thousands from her!!!
ReplyDeleteI am just 4 years away from 80 myself. Of course we have no money!!! We have no health insurance and really not much coming in!!
So no one is interested in me!!!
xx, Zoie & Fern
PS Thank GOD~~~~~
That is so sad that people can be so evil.
ReplyDeleteOh boy! I wish Uncle Vic hadn't put his address on those envelopes... and I am so glad Gary was there when that scamming man showed up...bet he was surprised.... maybe he'll think Gary's going to hang around and it'll make him scared to try anything else....
ReplyDeleteI get so angry when I hear of old people, children or animals being mistreated... we have a Christian duty to look after their safety... and I take it very seriously.
We are the care givers for my 80 year old grandmother, and people have tried to take advantage of her, but we put a stop to that REALLY QUICK!
Hugs,
Jenni
I can't believe people can do that to other people. It's crazy, isn't it? There are some dogs out there that just want all the bones they can get...even if they shouldn't be hungry. -or if the dog they are stealing from is kind and considerate. hmmmph-ruff
ReplyDeleteThank goodness Gary was there!
ReplyDeleteSome people are just evil.
Poor elderly people are so trusting.
love
tweedles
What can I add that others haven't already said? People who take advantage of children and the elderly are lower than weasels. I bet you all sometimes wished you lived closer to the uncle so you can protect him a bit more.
ReplyDeleteOccasionally I will eat lunch at Golden Corral near work. There are LOTS of elderly who go there daily according to the servers. It's a good deal for them for the price and is their main meal of the day.
Thank you for visiting and following my blog today. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad that some people think they have to take advantage of the elderly. It's a good thing Gary was there at the right time to help his uncle.
I haven't seen the Betty White show, but I'd like to.
Oh my! Why is there such meanness in the world! I am so glad that Gary was there to intervene!
ReplyDelete