Big Business Can Bite Me!
Hey, everyone. 
How’s it goin’? Are you glad it’s Friday? ;)
The past couple of days have been busy for me. I took Mom to the Doc on Wednesday, and then spent half the day with her yesterday, too. It’s always good to spend time with her because she and I never lack for anything to visit about, but it’s also difficult spending time with her because she’s always in so much pain and I can’t do anything about it. Oh, for a magic wand!
My son finally opened up the other day and told me what was upsetting him. I, of course, cannot share his personal issues here, but I am glad he talked to me about them. It’s so hard, as a parent, to watch your child go through pain you cannot make all better. Boo-boos used to be so much easier to fix when they were little. 
There’s been some upsetting and unsettling things happening within my extended family, as well. Once again I am not free to talk about them here since they are not directly mine. As with all the rest, I am unable to do anything to help make it better. *sigh* Sure makes a person feel totally helpless.
Now, on to the “biting” part ….. *wink*
I saw a piece on the news the other night which really made my blood boil! It was a story about how the “powers that be” in the city of Wheat Ridge have decided to exercise the Eminent Domain law there and effectively “boot out” 3 small, family-owned businesses to make room for a 14,000 square foot Walgreens Pharmacy. Apparently this kind of thing has been going on for quite some time; I wonder where I’ve been living! DUH! I wasn’t even aware that Hell-Mart — er, uh, I mean Wal-Mart — was the leader of the evil pack.
It makes me livid that Corporate America does stuff like that to the “little guy”! One of the businesses being “moved” (to put it mildly) is a family-owned garage and tire repair shop. It’s been there for 40 years, being handed down from son to son. The current owner said they are being offered just enough money to go bankrupt! It’s worth 1.5 million, and they’re being offered $225,000! Can you believe that??? I’ll tell ya’ what, I’d holler out a great big NO WAY and stay put! And I wouldn’t care if they threw me in jail or not! Damn it! I don’t think this is what is meant when people talk about the “American Way”, but it sure looks like it is fast becoming the new definition! How disgusting is that?!
Maybe we should all start talking about it and create a PR nightmare for Walgreens! I guess it doesn’t bother them one bit that they get twice the amount in incentive money than the store owner gets for his business! GAG! All I can say is SHAME ON THEM! SHAME ON ALL OF THEM!!
January 30th, 2004 at 10:32 pm
Glad your son finally opened up to you. I’m sure just talking about helped him, even if you couldn’t bandage it for him
And yeah, Wal-Mart and Walgreens are terrible about that. What’s worse is they tear down beautiful historic buildings and put up their monstrosities instead, or change the exisiting building so much you’d never guess it was a twin to the one across the street
Same thing is happening with chain pharmacies in England too, and some of those buildings date waaaaaaaaaaaaay back. Very sad.
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January 30th, 2004 at 11:43 pm
Mums have a special way of easing all sorts of pain, eh? David will be just fine as long as you’re around “Mum.” ;) I’m sure he’s feeling lots better after his talk and has already raided the refrigerator. lol Hey, have you got the new one yet?
Sorry to hear that you’re having family problems, leigh. (((hugs))) And SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on those BIG bastards! Do us little guys EVER win??
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January 31st, 2004 at 8:30 am
What the heck?! They can do that? I thought imminent domain was only with roadways. One business can’t declare itself more important than another one! You’re right, that bites big time.
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January 31st, 2004 at 11:20 am
You have been having a productive few days and am so pleased your son opened up to you. It is wonderful when children trust their parents with their innermost thoughts and feelings.
Have a good weekend Leigh. ((((hugs))))
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February 1st, 2004 at 7:39 am
It might seem like a small consolation, but, I think you do a world of good by not airing things here. You show really good judgment. Some people don’t know where to draw the line about personal issues (i.e. the ones concerning other people). It makes things harder when the whole world is made aware of another’s dirty laundry.
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February 2nd, 2004 at 9:38 am
reading about that makes me sick. those poor people don’t even have a choice, and thats just tragic. and how insulting to be forced to accept less than what their business is worth. grrrr!!
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