One would think that having gotten over that phase in childhood when my sister and I had very distinct and opposite roles -- I built towers out of wooden blocks, and she pushes them over -- that there'd be almost no sense of competition left. Ha.
My dentist uncle is firmly set against volunteering, which he likes to remind me of during annual cleanings, but there are always perks: the t-shirts, the kids, the little gifts. Yesterday was Body Shop soap from Hazel, the Drawing & Painting teacher; today it was Alyssa (or Alyssa's mum, who can tell?) with her handwritten card and Ferrero Rochers today, which I was thrilled with. I'd post some pictures of the kids' music classes, but the last thing I need is for Dan to boot me off his server for racking up too many hits from unclean surfers.
Back to the gripe. My sister's been volunteering at the SFU summer camps for a few years now, mostly with older kids, and she, of course, comes back with a sack of Purdy's and -- the cruelest cut of all -- a $20 Starbucks card.
Even the drug companies only give $10. And she doesn't even like coffee.
Is this irrational? Juvenile? Petty? Hell yes. I seethe inwardly because of it, while she works up an inferiority complex. Isn't it strange, that in this tightest of nuclear families that the assault should come from within.
My dentist uncle is firmly set against volunteering, which he likes to remind me of during annual cleanings, but there are always perks: the t-shirts, the kids, the little gifts. Yesterday was Body Shop soap from Hazel, the Drawing & Painting teacher; today it was Alyssa (or Alyssa's mum, who can tell?) with her handwritten card and Ferrero Rochers today, which I was thrilled with. I'd post some pictures of the kids' music classes, but the last thing I need is for Dan to boot me off his server for racking up too many hits from unclean surfers.
Back to the gripe. My sister's been volunteering at the SFU summer camps for a few years now, mostly with older kids, and she, of course, comes back with a sack of Purdy's and -- the cruelest cut of all -- a $20 Starbucks card.
Even the drug companies only give $10. And she doesn't even like coffee.
Is this irrational? Juvenile? Petty? Hell yes. I seethe inwardly because of it, while she works up an inferiority complex. Isn't it strange, that in this tightest of nuclear families that the assault should come from within.
