When they repossessed our car I gave them the keys, why argue with the inevitable?

[ThomWV]

This was from an earlier recession and is intended only to give hope.

When they came to repossess our car I just handed over the keys. The fellow who came to get it didn't seem too surprised that I made it easy, he told me that very few people even bothered to come outdoors when they had to tow cars away, but he'd see them peeking out the curtains. When they came to take our house we were already gone. I drew unemployment until it ran out and then I briefly considered robbing 7-11's before finding a minimum-wage job mowing grass at the state University. It was hard for my wife and I, our son was too young to notice.

What I wanted to tell you was that within five years things had changed. Five years later I had a middle class job, my wife had returned to college, and we had bought our second (now paid for) home.

I'm telling you all this just to inspire a little hope for those of you who are having a hard time. I know how it is, but I also know it will get better. You'll be OK.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. In the fall of 1979 I was sleeping in my car.

I had a newly minted PhD and there were no jobs. Yeah, whatever it is, "this too shall pass."

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. In the fall of 1979 I was broke and living with a friend.

I had a newly minted Master's Degree and no job.
No money either. Not a dime.
And really grateful that I had been raised in a poor family. Knew survival skills.

2 years later I was an organic gardener with 15 acres, helped start a still thriving Farmer's Market, and living on the proceeeds, something my friend is still doing after all these years.

The degree finally got used, and now I am retired, in a fairly ok financial situation, no debts.

It passes, one way or the other.

I

[bigtree]

2. yep

I remember raiding a neighbor's vegetable garden to fill out our dinner. Things do change - sometimes for the better.

[martymar64]

15. We do what we must to survive

I've considered shooting adult videos as a way to make money, nothing illegal though. It pains me as a filmmaker to have to do this, but I gotta eat.

[fasttense]

3. Everything changes, that much you can rely on. n/t

[lonestarnot]

4. Live one way, or live another. The alternative is a matter of timing.

:)

[NashVegas]

5. Ouch

Thanks, Tom.

Shall I share?

In the last recession, I was fired from a job I had a love/hate relationship with. I was #2 on the totem pole and my boss was a prick of unbelievable proportions. Anyway, budget cuts ...

I took a part-time job at another company where I had an hour's commute and ended up with a bunch of scrappers, eventually going full-time and making the move. Together we went on to achieve national recognition. Almost everyone who was at the core of that little business went on to much bigger things.

Somewhere between the part-time and the full-time job, I totalled the first new car I'd ever bought - two days after the grace period expired on insurance payments. SUCKED. But I got through it. Now, I never spend more than $3500 on a car - and pay cash.

[Berry Cool]

6. What great stories!

Maybe DU needs a periodic Thread of Inspiration (call it the "NGU" Thread?) that consists of nothing but people's positive stories about how time and circumstances and determination dug them out of a deep hole. It can give encouragement to those experiencing bad times right now, to let them know this is just a snapshot in time, and that things can change for the better.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. No, don't call it an NGU thread.

That'll just attract Class Warrior.

[mnhtnbb]

16. See the thread I started about the homeless alcoholic and teacher getting married.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4763298&mesg_id=4763298

[wildeyed]

7. Excellent post, Thom.

kick

[emilyg]

8. Inspiring.

[Senator]

11. K&R

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. It's nice to hear something positive on DU. K&R

[Hekate]

13. Thanks, Thom. A lot of people here really need to hear this message.

:grouphug:

Hekate

[HamdenRice]

14. Your stories and hard won perspective are always appreciated! nt