Home Stretch 4: 'I can handle it!', the mantra of the self-defeating.

As we lurch uneasily into the Hybrid, I'd say we can all agree that the Pattersons and people similar enough to them to be thought of as Pattersons-by-association have an annoying habit that I must once again call to your attention: the refusal to seek out help. Many's the time we've witnessed someone hopelessly out of his or her depth refuse proferred help in a pathetic display of bravado. This, as a for instance, explains why Jim is in the sorry condition he's in. Iris may actively rebuff Elly's attempts to lend a hand. It doesn't excuse Elly's failure to insist, though. Not only does it display a lack of concern, it also betrays her gullible stupidity. After all, the average octogenarian can't handle what Jim is going through and shouldn't be expected to. Instead of getting off her ass and helping out, Elly drank the Kool-Aid and went back to shavin' sheets and stuffin' her face. It also explains why the Lizthonyrese triangle is such a mess. As it stands right now, Elizabeth can't really 'handle' being a step-mom any more than she could handle Therese if her rival decided to play hardball after she marries Nostache. ObliviLiz has herself a soul mate in Angsthony because he 'handled' his wife's PPD by loathing her for her 'weakness'. Sort of like how Mike generally 'handles' the responsibility of fatherhood by running away from his children like a frightened salamander. We all remember how JSTF handled the Chew Toy during the set-up to the Housening: by treating her like an idiot.