Our youngest child's elementary school just sent their online December newsletter. In it was this poem from a 3rd grader:
Christmas Time is a time of joy, happy faces, and fun! Gifts and Santa on his way, turkey and a hot fire. People watching Christmas movies. Kids shouting and playing in the snow. Christmas time is great!!
My husband and I will be filing bankruptcy this month, and losing our beloved home, and I mean beloved. To say our egos and morale are in the toilet is putting it mildy. But this poem reminds what Christmas and happiness AREN'T.
Never has a child said that Christmas is:
TWO sports cars in the driveway
That shiny new Cadillac
A giant expensive house
Christmas decorations that are WAY better than the neighbors
A skinny beautiful Mom who wears the latest clothes and the perfect makeup
Getting all that crap advertised on TV
A diamond necklace from Kay's or Jarrod
Ferrero Rocher candy
16 comments:
Hammer, I'm sorry to hear about you losing your home. Truth is, we're all one pay check away from being in the toilet. This economy sucks, and Bush is too busy passing out pardons to his pals to do anything about it except say "I'm sorry"! Sorry ain't gonna turn my spam sam'mich I'm having for breakfast into steak and eggs, now is it? Sorry ain't gonna find some money for my child's college fund cause we can't save cause we're living pay check to pay check.
Hammer, keep your head up girlfriend. The poem was right on time. And your words were touching. You got joy--and joy can't be taken away because your circumstances are grim. Joy doesn't come from the outside, joy comes from within, and your blog is living proof that you're full of it and you pass it around liberally to others!
I'll be praying for you!
Terrible. I'm so sorry for this incredible misfortune that you're suffering. If there's anything we can do to help, please ask.
Words fail. You are so amazing. You continually remain hilarious, warm, kind, loving, witty, and supportive, despite the incredible challenges you are going through. I hope to one day be even a tiny bit like you!
I agree with Sheleta, that so many of us are one paycheck away from disaster. It's so often purely a matter of luck--good or bad--who faces things like bankruptcy and foreclosure and who does not. My life feels very, very tenuous most of the time, and I resent rich Republicans who don't have to worry about money or what happens to anyone else.
Do you feel like you're living a version of "It's a Wonderful Life" this Christmas? Holy cow. I do wish you a happy ending.
Do you know yet where your family will be living?
If some guy from the bank comes frantic to you door, I would answer it, Shan might be right! I am proud of you for seeking the true meaning in life and for seeing the joy and love around you. Not everyone could embrace that or even remind themselves of that and MEAN it! I wish I could do something to help you and your family and others like you. Let me know if I can help somehow! Even blog friends that you have never met in person can give you a hug!
Sorry to hear about your situation. But you're right--your kid's got his head in the right place.
I still can not believe that our government is letting things like this happen to people. What good is a home that sits empty?
We certainly are right with you all - the houses around us are causing our value to spiral downward and with my downsized salary things a soooo tight! One house the guy is letting go into foreclosure, but has been since June and nothing has happened to his drug dealing behind. Still there, still driving a Jag. The little old lady on either side, one lost her hubby who mortgaged her to the hilt - the other is in a nursing home and her daughter listed the house below tax value, by TWENTY GRAND.
Sux to be all of us, but at least we have each other and the wise and kind words that help us survive.
I wish I had words of comfort of some sort for you. I am amazed at what is happening to so many good people in our country......it's so very sad.
I am very sorry for your situation. Little more than tissue paper separates us... If I had not sold my house (from before we got married) I would have lost it and been in a huge financial mess. As it is I sold it and am in a partial mess.
Unlike you and DCup, I have more trouble talking about it. I so envy you for your candor.
You do have an inimitable spirit my friend and I send you every good thought and wish that I have.
I want to echo Shan's comments. What a remarkable person you are, incredibly together even in the face of great pain.
It boggles me as hard-working people's finances crash around us. How can this be happening? It must feel like you're being blindsided.
I too send a hug and caring thoughts.
Dang it. I was really hoping you'd be able to qualify to keep the house. Aren't those "new" bankruptcy laws fabulous?
I am hurting for you. I wish I could fix it for all of us.
Don't hesitate to contact me if you want to commiserate.
Out of the mouths of babes. Such perspective. I wish I could help you and DCup and everyone else out - but unfortunately that is not the case. Somebody should have shot our representatives when the bankruptcy laws were changed.
I'm here through Fran (and Dcup). I'm so sorry to hear about your situation, I'm sending good thoughts and prayers.
Something I hope is true and is acted up asap, from the NY Times today:
"After pouring vast amounts of money into financial institutions of almost every type, and having little to show for it, the Bush administration and the Federal Reserve are suddenly taking a new look at ordinary homeowners.
Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, warned on Thursday that the soaring number of foreclosures threatened the economy. He then proposed some ideas — government-engineered loan modifications, and more taxpayer money to help people refinance — to keep people in their homes."
Have you talked to a lawyer? You may be able to keep your home.
I wish we could move the inauguration date up; I have a feeling things will start getting better after that.
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Late to the . . .well, just late as usual.
So sad to hear of your ongoing troubles and the horrible resolution. Revel in the power of your words and your spirit to bind your family and friends together in support of you and your loved ones.
Truly hard times for all...
...tom...
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Christmas thoughts to focus on
___________________
Julie
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