I will never take anything for granted again

[Parche]

With the good news about my new job starting tomorrow,
and the 3months of surviving, it has opened my eyes to
what some people have to go thru to make it in the US.

3months ago, they denied my unemployment, I worked labor
temp to survive, I have met so many real people down there
every morning at 5:30am, some people that were out on the streets,
some in rehab for minor offenses, but once you get to know them
they are all good people, that need a chance to make things better
for themselves, sometimes you didnt go out on jobs, sometimes
you only got 4hours, but we all survived it.
I finally had the unemployment hearing, and WON, so I did receive
the benefits retroactive, which in turn went to the landlady because
I was so far behind in the rent, and now tomorrow is a new beginning.
I will never forget this experience, it has been the most grueling
and hardest thing I have ever been through in my life, this kind
of thing should not happen here in the United States, if they can
send $300 billion over to Iraq, they sure as hell can keep it here
and train the people that need it most, no more homeless people and
more jobs.
Through misty eyes I can say that I am one of the lucky ones,I will
always remember this, and I will try to help from now on.

[mac56]

1. Wow, Parche

Good for you, for hanging in there.

Good luck.

[FloridaPat]

2. Congratulations. Glad someone beat the unemployment in the US.

Real sad state of the union.

[patdem]

3. Your testament misted my eyes too...thanks for the report from the

real world. Sometimes we get so caught up in politics we do not realize how REAL people are affected by policies. thanks for that report and I am SO GLAD you go a job! Good for you! And I hope many more jobs are created so people can go back to work! One :cry: and one :bounce:

[annabanana]

4. It is a really tough row to hoe that you've been through...

I only wish that those responsible for making it so difficult to survive had to experience what you and all the others have had to experience.
It has become very clear to me that the people who make the punitive policies are incapable of empathy, and that they must walk in the shoes THEMSELVES to be able to imagine how much they pinch.

[asjr]

5. I don't think any of us will take anything for granted again.

Such as our freedom. Carl Sandburg said "Fog creeps in on little cat feet." I feel the greed and lust for power in the last four years crept in on lies. How much longer can we hold up under this administration?

[madison2000]

6. Glad you made it through

I had 16 months of unemployment from a layoff almost 4 years ago and then 4 months which only ended 3 weeks ago. During a few months of the long one I ran up debt that I will still be paying off for a couple of years. It changed my life... I know there are still so many people out there struggling to survive and there is not enough support for us.

[NC_Nurse]

7. Good for you!

Sometimes it's the tough times that make us the best we can be. I see you rising out of this a more aware, stronger person who can help lift others out of this situation.

:toast:

[EC]

8. And add one more blessing, most get kicked out of their

apartments for late rent...You very well could have been one of the many living in your car, or on the street...

[skygazer]

9. I'm glad you came through it all okay

And I'm glad you recognize how difficult it is for some people. I've been at the bottom of the heap and I too know not to take anything for granted. It is so difficult to spend every single day worrying about every single penny and how you're going to allocate it to the bills that keep mounting up, how to answer your children when they say, "Mom, I've been real good, can I get a candy bar?" and you don't even have a lousy fifty cents to spare for it.

I wish everyone could spend a week or two living the life of a poor person here in America just to get an idea of what a tremendous amount of work goes into survival. It's daunting and for some people, it never ends, not through lack of trying but through lack of help and opportunity.

You are right, it should not be like this in such a rich and fortunate country.

[salin]

10. Glad that you made it through... and yes, perspective is a very

healthy thing. Imagine how things would have been different in the past four years if bushco figures had similar experiences and perspective.