I needed that

My favorite!

My friend Kathleen and I went out for dinner Tuesday night. I don't know what inspired her to call me, but I'm glad she did. We shared a trio of appetizers -- dates wrapped in bacon, sliders and spinach/artichoke dip -- had cocktails and caught up. It's the first time I've seen her all year.

I've been a little worried about her husband. He lost his mother at the tail end of last year. He had moved here nearly 30 years ago, while his mother remained in England. The family here saw her once a year and kept up with her by phone and email. I met her several times over the years and know his mother felt involved in  their lives. It's just I know he must have felt bad that he wasn't with her more as her health declined.

Kathleen seemed to be touched by my concern. Her husband can be a prickly sort and can alienate people. I don't care. I think he's interesting. And besides, I can be prickly and can alienate people, too.

It was nice to fill her in on what's going on with me. I feel that lately I've been so surrounded by sad and worry. It was refreshing to concentrate on me for an evening, and to laugh.

We promised to do it again in a couple months. It inspires me to reach out to other friends I haven't seen in a while. I must get in touch with Mindy, Joanna and Barb.

$220 isn't worth a phone call

Back in 2002, when my nephew was a toddler and my niece was in grammar school, my sister called and asked me to open a Upromise Account. She sent me the link via email that enabled me to earn money for her kids' college by using my Citibank credit card at Bed, Bath and Beyond and grocery shopping at Jewel.

I hadn't thought about the account in years, but with my nephew visiting colleges, I called the tollfree number and regained access. Turns out I'd raised a little more than $220 since last I checked, and in 2016 it had been transferred to an account for my nephew, in my sister's name.

I shot her an IM, asking her about it. She replied, "I did not know or maybe remember you had a Upromise account." I explained that I opened it when she asked me to. I gave her the phone number -- 800-UPROMISE, not exactly hard to remember -- and added there might be money in my niece's account, too. (She's still paying on her college loans, and if the money could be transferred, I'm sure she'd appreciate it.) Her response, "Will respond later."

She never got back to me. I assume that she's been too busy to make the phone call.

She never said "thank you." I assume that I don't give enough money to her children to have it acknowledged.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you my kid sister! Over 50, and yet forever the entitled baby of the family.