Just off the phone with my family in San Diego.

My mother, who is 80, is going to have an operation shortly, and will not be able to look after herself or my father for some time. She wants me to move "back" to San Diego and help out. I've agreed to see about getting time off from work (either PTO or unpaid leave) and come down for an extended period.

I should at least feel useful. I don't. I feel like I'm already dead, and nobody's bothered to tell me, because it's not really that important to anybody.

Just off the phone with my family in San Diego.

My mother, who is 80, is going to have an operation shortly, and will not be able to look after herself or my father for some time. She wants me to move "back" to San Diego and help out. I've agreed to see about getting time off from work (either PTO or unpaid leave) and come down for an extended period.

I should at least feel useful. I don't. I feel like I'm already dead, and nobody's bothered to tell me, because it's not really that important to anybody.