[JenB]

"Brethern" is generic.

Ugh, to save my mom's sanity I got Grandma out early by taking her for coffee. Two hours of her calling my by my nickname I hate and changed 11 years ago, complaining about television shows, and comparing my mother to her brother, unfavorably. Ugh, it's nothing with Corin's problems but... if I had three wishes, one would be to make my grandparents a little less self-centered.

It really hurts me to watch my mom with her mom, because her mom is so mean and hurtful and spiteful.

[Darksheare]

Grandparents can be like that at times.
Unfortunately.

But, Bretheren may be generic, but it makes the Company name much more impressive with "Sisteren" or "Sister" in there as well.

[Fedora]

"Brethern" is generic.

So is Bic, so it fits! :)

It was nice of you to help your Mom out with Grandma. I have some relatives who are like that sometimes, so I know that can be tough to deal with. I'm sure it made your Mom's Mother's Day easier that you helped out with that.

I read a little about Japanese and samurai history this afternoon. I learned that "ken" means "sword", which made me wonder if that has anything to do with Kenshin's name.

[SuziQ]

It really hurts me to watch my mom with her mom, because her mom is so mean and hurtful and spiteful.

SSQ's Mom (Granny) had to endure that from HER mother, too. Granny's sister had married a nice man who became a doctor and became rather well off. Granny married a wonderful man and they struggled for years. SSQ's grandmother never let up about how terrible it was that they had to do without so many things. Even by the time I'd met them, and they were comfortable, her mother STILL didn't let up! Drove me nuts, but his mom wasn't bitter about it. She knew her mother loved her, and that criticizing her was just her way. I wouldn't have put up with it, but I only saw her about once a year, and the old lady wasn't MY Mama, so I didn't have to. I felt bad for Granny, though.