Reality at times has a harsh way of making you sure that you know its there. I’ve lived a very disillusioned life, I’ve never been handed anything on a platter, having to work for the things that I own (sans gifts et al). As such, I have strong convictions and a will to live, but that was all tested throughout the 2 years.
After I graduated high school, I immediately started searching for work. Now, I’m not the best looking person out there, but I’m passable. But first impressions count for a lot in todays society, and I couldn’t find a job for an incredible 6 months. So, I applied at multiple temporary work agencies, hoping they could help me along, since I had rather good school grades and a work ethic like no other (If I can’t finish something, it means that something someone else did prevented me from it).
Eventually they found a job for me, it was a 10$ an hour position, and I was basically, pushing papers through a system. Not the ideal job for a guy like me, since I like working with electronics and my hands. But I bit the bullet and took the position, knowing I needed to pay for Gasoline, Insurance, Rent, etc. While there, I tried to make a few friends, and 2 guys were actually nice to me, but since the people that were there are only looking out for #1 I couldn’t really establish anything.
Eventually 2 women approached me about our senior manager’s smoking habits, and I gave my opinions on the issue. I didn’t really have a problem with it, and since I didn’t meddle in people affairs I thought nothing of my offhand comment. Boy was I in for a world of hurt. The very next day my senior manager pulled me off to the said and went off on me, stating that he asked for the extra breaks and that it wasn’t my place to talk behind his back and too approach him on any issues that I may have with what he does.
Two days later, another senior manager is moved next to him, right across from my cubicle. I guess they thought that I was doing something wrong during my work hours, like smoking pot or talking to long, taking to many breaks, etc. Well, two weeks after she was moved there, our computer system went down for the whole company, because of the central data filing system being overloaded with data. She specifically comes to me and goes “why aren’t you working.” I had finished what I was doing up to that point and made a point of noting it to her, but she didn’t relent, saying I needed to ACCESS the OVERLOADED system and find more work to do. I naturally stated that since it was down I couldn’t, so she went off and tattled on me to the Supervisor in charge of the whole division.
The VERY next day, my immediate manager chews me out for it, saying such things as: “Do you want to keep you F****** job? Do you like F****** working? GET ON THE BALL”, she knew full well that I couldn’t do that, even if I wanted to. It was as if the office management was targeting my since I was 18, and the young buck of the office.
Well, the week after all that went down, I crashed my truck, and what happens when you have bruised lungs, a broken rib, and several other injuries? The doctor prescribes pain medication. I have no tolerance for the stuff, which is why I don’t take it. But since I had to, to relieve my pain, it made me drowsy, and of course every office tattle tale goes of and does there thing.
Now, that was all in the spin of say August-December. On the week before Christmas, they had an office party and did what? Why they busted out the friggin booze and it started flowing. I, being underage, didn’t drink any, since I had work I actually needed to do, but the office closed at noon that day, and since such a party was going on, I couldn’t do what was needed. So two days before Christmas, I was called up by the temporary employment agency and fired…for what? Not being able to work because of OTHERS?!?!?! I was freaking furious about it, so I wrote a rather lengthy letter to the companies owner explaining what happened, and basically got a big FU letter back.
Well, 2007 starts, so I’m going “Yeah, should be a better year, I’m working with my father, and we wont fire me since he knows how I work.” Well, lucky for me, after being fired he had just pulled a contract to run all the security for a 3 story office building (camera’s, door access, badges, etc etc.) so I was out every day, making 20$ an hour, helping him pull wire and hang devices, so for about 2 months all was good.
At the same time, my mom was transferring departments at her work (which, ironically, was the exact place I was working for), she was going from Loan Processor to Underwriter. It was a larger pay scale and had better benefits, so that was all well and good. She went through 4 months of training to make the transition, finally the company gives the go ahead on the transfer, and he managers “forget” to sign the paperwork for TWO MONTHS, so not only was she not making as much as she should, she also didn’t get any bonus from the loans the underwrote, which would’ve averaged out to be an extra 4,000$ a month.
Well, as they say, the S*** hit the fan, and in May – June of 2007, the home loan industry fell out from under itself. Since my mother didn’t have the same star record that she had while processing loans, she was in the bottom “10%” of the employees at the bank, so she took a severance package and left, without so much as a “thank you” for her work.
Well, in February, my fathers truck had engine issues, and he had to replace it, so he went out and found the engine that he wanted, bought it, installed it, and wouldn’t you know, Murphy’s Law was in full effect, and problem and problem has been had with the engine, from low RPM detonation, to oil leaks from a truck that never had a single oil leak…ever. The guy who installed it gave him one hell of a deal, so he doesn’t have the right to complain, but as they say, you get what you pay for.
Well, he made a little over 100K off the office building job, and most of it had been expended on covering my mom’s transition from one position to another and his engine repair. While all of this was going on, I was just trucking along working for my father, not seeing money from him because he and I have a deal going to where I help the family out and he’ll repay me for the work I do. I fully expect him to repay me, because if he doesn’t it, I’ll take his ass to court and make him give me my money. But that’s not a desirable outcome.
So Murphy’s Law has been in full effect, my mother lost her job, my father is having truck problems and NECK problems.
He HAD to have a neck operation in February of 2007, or he would be dead at this point. So, not only is Murphy’s Law in effect, now my mom is out of work, my dad’s truck having serious issues, its all compounded with his Neck almost killing him. Nice life huh?
Well, you might be going, Samurai, you don’t seem to be having any problems here, these are all things that don’t effect you in the least. Well, you’d be wrong there also. Since I was working for my father, I hadn’t made a dollar off of it, which means I had no money to my name, and that does what? Not help me build credit, for one thing, and it also doing help me fix my wrecked Honda, or repay any debts that had occurred while I had a job, not to mention I was helping them by getting a second job, paying bill’s that aren’t mine, and this and that and etc.
You might be thinking to yourself “Why don’t you just move out.” That’s an idiotic thing to do in today’s economy, I wouldn’t be able to pay for Insurance, and Light, and Water, and Electric, and Heating/Air conditioning, and oh yeah, a House/Apartment payment. I did the math, and I would be shelling out at least 3,000$ a month. Hell, I don’t make that in a month currently, even if I wasn’t paying for anything at all. I currently make anywhere between 1,900-2,600$ a month, depending on how the hospital is paying and the jobs from it are flowing.
Now, in my life’s timeline, I’m almost to August of 2007, which is where my personal life just hit the fan and completely falls apart. August 6th, I had a malfunction with my Honda’s Radiator, and the engine falls apart on the way home from work. August 9th, my girlfriend of 2 years leaves me, and gives me the most ludicrous reason ever, saying things that would appall anyone. August 13, my mom is diagnosed with breast cancer, and its treatable, but it will cost nearly 200,000 to do everything for her. August 20th I get fired, since I don’t have reliable transportation to my 9-5 job. August 27th, my father finds out that he needs work done to another disk in his neck. August 30th, I finally get my last paycheck.
Now, at this point my life looks like: No Steady paying Job Father Might Die Mother Might Die Mounting responsibilities Defaulting Payments No Car And a myriad of other things that my mind just doesn’t want to deal with.
That’s all in 2007.
2008, I think it might be a better year, right? Boy was I F****** wrong, currently: Mom in Chemotherapy Dad in surgery Lean on family Home No Car (still) No Job (still)
My family is in even worse shape, since my mother can’t find work. Did you know that other businesses are black balling everyone coming from the Home loan industry? That means: Even though she has an almost clean track record, since she came from an industry that lent “funny” loans, she is one of those crooks, and shouldn’t be hired.
Meanwhile, I’m still trying to help my family and etc. I have pretty much quit any games I might have played (Magic, Pokemon, etc.), I have 0 social life, I have no time for it, or for a meaningful relationship. If this time has taught me anything, its that: While it may be easier to run, in the long run you’ll be a much stronger person if you stand and face your problems head freaking on people. I know my family will get through this, we always do.
So, if you think your life is hard, reread this posting, and think: Jeez, in comparison, I have it pretty well off. If you have some petty squabble with your spouse over something stupid and you think your life sucks, read this again. These are real problems my family is facing, and I hope I have presented it in such a way that you’ll understand that you’re pretty well off.
So, even if you think nothing of my blog entry, or of me remember this:
Someone out there has it worse off then you.
I’m just making my life public so you can all feel better about what may be happening to you.
Don't feel sorry for me. Just learn from my families mistakes.