Economic disparity is a motherfucker.

Sometimes you can't bridge that gap. Hell, I have one aunt who is rich, we'd always have to dress up to go to things, and people just assumed I was one of the monied. They'll flat out tell each other to drop poor people from their lives, as the poor are just so bitter about it and always asking for favors or money.

I've never asked my Aunt for a dime. I fucking HATED going to those parties. Good booze though. About the only thing I like about rich people parties.

I still remember her husband SCOFFING that I knew how to appreciate a decent scotch. I'd actually respected him up to that point. He was a great uncle when I was a kid, we'd go on camping trips.

At one dinner he confronted me and said "I've never seen you pick up the bill" And I explained to him that I always quietly slipped the money for my dinner and my mothers to my Grandpa.

Grandpa always liked picking up the ticket for dinner, it made him feel like the patriarch of the family. But I paid my fucking way.

After Grandpa died the family instantly drifted apart. Can't say I miss any of it. I do miss him.