 |
ExcerptsChapter 2 The Answer to Our Prayer(Story told by the Senior Client)Are there enough boxes to fill thirty-nine years of memories? Our friends seemed to think so. I couldn't tell you how many times we heard them tell us to stop wasting our time and start packing. Our house, our home was set for auction the following Saturday. Unless something happened, virtually instantaneously; we were going to be thrown out. Where would we go? The only upside of this terrible situation was that we wouldn't have to worry about how to pay the mortgage anymore. By the time you added up all of the bills, at the end of the month, there was not enough money to pay for the prescription medication that the insurance company did not cover. My husband and I could either pay our mortgage payment or pay for medication and food. Forced to choose between paying for medication and making the mortgage payment was like being caught between a rock and a hard place. There was no money for the basics, let alone extras. To make matters worse, our house was in terrible need of repair, however, hiring a painter or contractor was not exactly in the budget. Although it was spring, one of our favorite seasons, we were scared, frustrated, angry and very sad...
Chapter 14 New Possibilities(Story told by the Senior Client's Daughter)"I will never forget this moment," I thought to myself. This was the very first time in my thirty-four years that I witnessed my mother as a person and not as a parent. I sat across the table from her and it occurred to me that at age 76, her thoughts and decisions had never caught up with her age. My entire life, my sister and I had known her as a hardworking, intelligent, and caring person. She was a force to be reckoned with and extremely determined when she had her mind set on something. Even today, despite having medical issues, she still drives several miles each and every day to the other end of the county she lives in to teach. My mom is so passionate about molding and shaping the young minds in her classroom. Until the loan-closing meeting, she planned on continuing to teach indefinitely, health issues would never stop my mom from teaching. I had learned so much about my mother throughout this entire process. I learned that she wanted to travel and had a desire to own a business. To be perfectly honest, up until this moment, it never occurred to me that she had unfulfilled dreams. I could see a new sparkle in her eyes. Things were about to change and I was so grateful to Meg for introducing new possibilities to our family. But wait, I am jumping so far ahead of myself. Let me explain how it all began...
Chapter 5 I Don't Have to Struggle Anymore(Story told by the Senior Client)My name is Thelma and I grew up in the south. Despite having lived in Michigan for more than twenty years, I am a country gal at heart. I still miss the warm southern breezes, grits, and sweet tea. This year will come to mark my eightieth birthday and I had always heard how life could pass you by if you aren't looking. To me, there has never been a truer statement made. It seemed only yesterday that my children were young and I worked replacing vinyl seats for restaurants, hotels, and hospitals. This was hard work, especially on my back and hands. For hours, I hunched over a stool or chair patching and sewing until the seat looked just right. I took pride in my work and was interested in making sure each detail was just right. I'm reminded of my years of labor each time the weather gets cold and damp because my arthritic hands begin to ache. Holding down that job while raising my children and taking care of a home wasn't always easy. We focused on our blessings and managed to get through. I am thankful my parents instilled good southern values in me and because of this, I take my responsibilities and promises very seriously. That's probably why I was so terribly nervous about how I was going to pay the bills since my husband passed away. Paying $550 for my monthly mortgage was almost half of the $1,200 I had to live on each month. I was tired of 'robbing Peter to pay Paul,' just to make the mortgage payment. Until I could find a better solution, this was just the way I lived. I had already thought of selling the house, ultimately I decided I wanted to stay. Selling would affect not only me but also my family. My daughter and grandson moved in with me a few years ago and I wouldn't accept money from her for rent. If I sold the house, where would we live? My daughter lived here all year round and my grandson joined us when he was home from school. I even looked into getting a home equity loan but the bank told me I didn't have enough income or credit to get approved. I was determined there was no way I was going to lose my home. I would just have to go without, before I would fall behind on my mortgage payments and get myself further into debt. I dreamed of a time when I could go to the grocery store and not price shop for every item! After all, a woman who worked hard her entire life shouldn't have to pinch pennies when she's about to turn eighty - should she?......  |
