is family really there when you need them

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Lately, all I've discussed lately is depressing things...I guess being layed off is bringing me down, not knowing where the next penny is coming from. But, that's not what I am discussing tonite. When you find life giving you the short stick, and all you want is someone to cheer you up or give you a call just to see how you are doing ...are your family members the ones that you can count on? Unfortunately, mine aren't. I have an 89 yr old mother, who is living one day at a time, and doesn't think any one of us are having problems...or at that age, doesn't want to know,so she blocks it out. Okay, so I understand that. However, my only 1 sister, (and no brothers), is far from that age...and yet, I barely hear from her. Over a year ago, she lost her husband unexpectedly, and I was on that phone every night calling her, to see how she was doing. While she shared her emotions with me, I listened, and somewhat understood. I was left alone after a divorce...maybe not as heart wrenching as her circumstance, but I do know what it's like to come home to an empty house... feel that all the cooking and housecleaning meant nothing anymore...because who was I doing it for then...where was my life going...? Yet, the only time I hear from her is when she is giving me information about someone or something. She never calls just to check in with me, and see how I'm doing. Her excuses are that she is out every night...Yup, since her husband's been gone, she is never, never home...she can't stand being there..; I guess, I understand that too. However, it would be nice to hear from her once in awhile, for just a chat. My sister hates being around negativity...I do too if you are around it all the time, but there is usually a reason why people are negative. Something is usually going on in their lives that is making them miserable, and they are having one awful time to get out of it. So what would you do? Would you just stop calling that person, or would you try to help that person and try to cheer them up? When you have a bad day, wouldn't it be nice to have someone be willing to just sit there and listen to you, even if they were not happy thoughts. My sister tells me that it's much easier for her to talk to her friends than her family, she can tell them everything. So that's the way she is...I'm not like that. If she was willing to be there, I would not be afraid of opening up to her on everything...I only have one sister, it would be nice to be close to her. But, since I know how she is...not wanting to share with me, as well as not wanting to be around people who are down, I don't waste my time calling her. I would not think of imposing on her! (That's anger talking there..lol) Is it just me, or do any of you share the same feelings as I do.