A More Personal Story Today
It is April 28th. Our checking account is depleted. We do not have any food in the house. I have two days to cook before my next retirement check hits the bank. The money is running out now more frequently leaving more days at the end of the month in which I must scramble.
My son has a part time job starting Wednesday. He does not know how much this job will bring in, how many hours he will be able to work or how much per hour they will pay him. Yet, I am glad that he has this small thing to look forward to. Most people have gotten used to part time work around here. They know that if they get hired for full time positions the odds are good they will be laid off a few days before they qualify for benefits. This has happened to my son more times than I can mention.
Our society is so messed up.
My son is unskilled I guess. Citi-Bank keeps hounding him to pay back the $16,000 in student loans that have not gotten him even an interview. He feels worthless. He is discouraged. He has given up in so many ways.
He is not worthless to me. He is talented. He is a good Father.
His discouragement feeds my depression. I cry a lot at the end of the month.
I will get into my car later and go to the store after scrounging some cash from here and there around the house. For $15.00 I can get some hamburger. I have some onions around, and some frozen veggies I can turn into some kind of make shift meal. We need milk for the children. If nothing else I will get milk for their cereal. Who knows what will happen tomorrow.
As I drive to the store I will see the new houses going in on the ridge above my neighborhood. These are the kinds of houses that I see in the Decorating Magazines. They are in the $500K to 1M ranges. I wonder who will buy them. I wonder who has a job that provides enough income to afford to live there. They must work really long hours to afford those kinds of places. I see a lot of developments around with houses like them. Most are behind walls with gates to keep the riff raff out.
I am feeling like riff raff lately. My 29 year career has only left me feeling like my life has been some kind of joke. Mr. Bush wants to help out the rich people in the country. They don’t look like they need much help to me.
I go to my Congressman’s website. He often has some ideas posted about where to find work. Washington State has the third highest unemployment rate in the country. He points out lots of Federal Jobs available. But he also shows nothing local. This is typical. This is where we are in America. How do I get out?
5:26:30 PM 
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