The Common Wealth
When I think back times were pretty tough. My
mom raised two children on her own. No help, no support. We were latchkey kids before there was a latch. I'd come home from school, let a neighbor know I was there and I'd watch my brother until our mom got home.
I remember winters of unbearable cold. We had no heat so we dressed for school under the covers. We had no lunch money, so we made do with peanut butter and jelly.
I received Christmas clothes from the rotarians or kiwanians. It was the best of times it was the worst of times.
But the one thing we were never without was hope.
My mother found the opportunities to have a job, pay the bills and feed her children. We were always told things would get better and there was education and opportunities ahead for us as well.
Both my brother and I followed that dream. We put ourselves thru college by working several jobs and set out on our own to conquer the world.
I've seen the highs and lows, I've raised a family and have gotten to the stage in my life where I envision whaty life will be like in those few years when I can retire. I picture my small apartment, cat in the window and the oportunity to enjoy the years I've worked so hard for.
When did it all go down the tubes?
Over two years ago I lost my job. After over 30 years in my chosen career, I was laid off. Over two years later there are no jobs in sight. Am I too old to be hired? No interviews, no hopes on the horizon.
I'm filing for bankrutcy. Well when I can find the 300$ to file. As of April 30th my insurance and unemployment benefits ran out. Close to losing my home and several weeks ago my 1999 ford passed away. This was the car I'm about to call home.
Me and three cats living in a ford Taurus. Not to mention the back taxes I owe on unemloyment.
I don't want a handout. I want those oortunities that were promised me that would enable me to succeed. After all the years of working, looking towards the future, it's all been taken away.
First my company started laying off, then they offshored 70% of our jobs to India, them they tried to relocate most of us to other states and finally laid the rest of us off.
What's wrong with a country that doesn't care for it's children or elderly, that allows those in teaching, medical fields and the military to be on welfare because they don't cherish those who's work is most important. Where athletes make more money per minute than most people earn in a lifetime.
I may not make it. It's pretty bleak and at times that hope and optismy mother instilled in me is gone.
Lincoln said, "a house divided cannot stand". Well this house is torn and the solution is not to fix the golden weathervane sitting on to, showing off it's glittery plumage. It's to fix the foundation first. The foundation that sits squarely on the shoulders of those people like myself.
The tired, the poor, the wretched refuse yearning to breathe free. We Americans.
mom raised two children on her own. No help, no support. We were latchkey kids before there was a latch. I'd come home from school, let a neighbor know I was there and I'd watch my brother until our mom got home.
I remember winters of unbearable cold. We had no heat so we dressed for school under the covers. We had no lunch money, so we made do with peanut butter and jelly.
I received Christmas clothes from the rotarians or kiwanians. It was the best of times it was the worst of times.
But the one thing we were never without was hope.
My mother found the opportunities to have a job, pay the bills and feed her children. We were always told things would get better and there was education and opportunities ahead for us as well.
Both my brother and I followed that dream. We put ourselves thru college by working several jobs and set out on our own to conquer the world.
I've seen the highs and lows, I've raised a family and have gotten to the stage in my life where I envision whaty life will be like in those few years when I can retire. I picture my small apartment, cat in the window and the oportunity to enjoy the years I've worked so hard for.
When did it all go down the tubes?
Over two years ago I lost my job. After over 30 years in my chosen career, I was laid off. Over two years later there are no jobs in sight. Am I too old to be hired? No interviews, no hopes on the horizon.
I'm filing for bankrutcy. Well when I can find the 300$ to file. As of April 30th my insurance and unemployment benefits ran out. Close to losing my home and several weeks ago my 1999 ford passed away. This was the car I'm about to call home.
Me and three cats living in a ford Taurus. Not to mention the back taxes I owe on unemloyment.
I don't want a handout. I want those oortunities that were promised me that would enable me to succeed. After all the years of working, looking towards the future, it's all been taken away.
First my company started laying off, then they offshored 70% of our jobs to India, them they tried to relocate most of us to other states and finally laid the rest of us off.
What's wrong with a country that doesn't care for it's children or elderly, that allows those in teaching, medical fields and the military to be on welfare because they don't cherish those who's work is most important. Where athletes make more money per minute than most people earn in a lifetime.
I may not make it. It's pretty bleak and at times that hope and optismy mother instilled in me is gone.
Lincoln said, "a house divided cannot stand". Well this house is torn and the solution is not to fix the golden weathervane sitting on to, showing off it's glittery plumage. It's to fix the foundation first. The foundation that sits squarely on the shoulders of those people like myself.
The tired, the poor, the wretched refuse yearning to breathe free. We Americans.
Views: 0
Comment
-
Comment by Jaye Strait on July 9, 2010 at 12:16pm -
Dear Judie:
I couldn't sleep last night after reading your story. It reflects my own life experience. I was injured on the job @ 36 and found myself unemployable. I could have maybe should have gone on SSID but I didn't because of the example my mom set to me as a child. I started my own business and have been struggling ever since. The forced health care and mountains of regulation here in Mass killed my small business. I'm to old to be employed now too. I have no answers for you. I feel your pain. I just wanted to wish you all the best and encourage you to keep fighting. Can't anyone out there give this women a job?
Jaye Strait
-
Comment by Judie Cole on July 2, 2010 at 1:31pm
-
I've been an executive secretary for 30 years. Mist recently for eight with Fidelity Investments.
Thanks!
-
Comment by Elyse Wilk on July 2, 2010 at 1:15pm -
What did you do for work? Maybe we can help you find a job.
© 2013
You need to be a member of BrownBrigade to add comments!
Join BrownBrigade