Greetings, everyone
We'll be "celebrating" Mother's day this coming Sunday.
The circumstances of this year's celebration couldn't be any bleaker (on second thought, they might be and things can actually get much worse).

Venezuela is in pretty bad shape right now. Despite the rather mild version of Covid-19 we got, which has not caused a lot of sick or dead (according to official records), the country is in a state of isolation and the economy has sunk to unprecedented levels. We have not enough gasoline to meet demand. Those in military uniform have control of the business and provide the precious product to whoever they want at whatever price in $ they please. Thus, public transportation has almost entirely disappeared and only those car owners with enough strings to pull or dollars to spare can afford a full tank.

Add to that the fact that our hospital system is in total ruin. Ignore whatever maduro or any of his cronies say about hospitals fully equiped and free medical attention guaranteed for anyone. They are doing what they do best, lying.

Thus, if you're sick you cannot be taken to a hospital facility because there are few cars with gas around. If you are lucky enough and have the right contacts, you may get your ride. However, no hospital facility will provide you with any medical attention you need, especially if you're in your 80s and suffer from different chronic illnesses. But, let's say your lucky star keeps shining and you got a specialist to help you at a small ambulatorio, the only affordable medical facility for the average person. How do you buy the medicines now, or pay for the required lab tests?

That's the dilemma we face these days. We wish our elders would not get sick. We wish they last forever. But they can't help it. I know it mortifies them even more. Our elders grew up in a time when you have to be strong and independent. You were supposed to keep it until your last breath.