venting and a cry for help.
It's scary when I hear that my parents are struggling financially...I mean, I'm used to it, but that's because I'm in college (lol) so that's to be expected. To hear that from my parents...it shakes me a little. Actually, it shakes me alot. It worries me to no end.
I can't say we were rich or anything growing up, but to be perfectly honest, we were never left wanting either. At least, as far as i can tell and from what they've told me, they've never had to really struggle to make ends meet. But now. Things are alot different.
My mother hasn't gotten a job since Delta laid her off (I have no respect for that company after what they did to both my parents...) and then she's been at home taking care of Danny whenever he's home and of course taking care of the house and finances and stuff. My dad retired, but I think Delta didn't give him the pension he deserved (especially not after 30 years in the company) so since then he's been trying to find ways to cut corners to make ends meet. He can't get a job again because of his condition and from what he says his language barrier (my dad speaks english just fine, he just doesn't trust himself to use it with people for fear of embarrassment) My mom can't get a job because then there'd be no one to take care of Danny.
It's been on my mind alot since I've moved up north. It makes me feel even worse when i think about the money they've given me to get here, when Dee Jay and I couldn't find a loan our second year, plane tickets for christmas break and stuff, that confrontation we had with US Bank (the bastards...) Hell, even when mom was getting money from Rico, she told him to give it to me so I could use that to pay bills and supplies. When my uncle was paying them back for the money they loaned him she told him to put it in my account instead. They've always helped us out. I try not to run to mom and dad with my problems, but if there's a situation I know is rough or we're unsure about I go to them for advice and help.
And now we're here. My mom calls me up and we were talking about finances and she says if nothing changes, they've only got enough to live out the year. She talked about going back to PR with dad (it's much cheaper there) but she hates it over there. (actually, save for my dad, we ALL hated being there, lol!) She worried about how they'd sell the house with the market the way it is, and they don't feel that they can leave yet; not without knowing if my brother would have a place to live or my uncle or me and Dee Jay...and I can completely understand that. If it was just my parents, they personally don't mind living anywhere if it's just the two of them. But alot of people depend on them; that house might as well be a boarding house, with all the people that have lived there to get back on their feet, lol! So when she asked how offended I'd be if she asked if I'd be able to stay in FL for a little while so we can all pool money into the house to keep it going (if it came down to it) how could I say no? I mean, I said i'd have to talk to Dee Jay about it too; I wouldn't make this decision all by myself. But just me speaking, yeah, I'd totally do it.
They've always given when the family needed help; now they need the help. Now they're struggling and scrimping and it hurts to hear them worry about money the way I do here. I want to do something so badly for them and I don't even know where to start. I've tried to do commissions for years, but that never seems to work (as in I can never seem to get anyone to buy anything, lol) ...not even sure what sort of commission work I can do now that I'm spending so much time doing senior project anyway. Another thought would be to sell whatever art i've made while being here (after i can document it of course; I need some record of what I've done here) but I don't know how people feel about "student" work.
I don't know. I just don't. All I do know is that I want to do something, anything to help them stay on their feet. I think this is one of those reasons i try so hard to do well in school. Not only for myself, but so that they know that their investments in me and Dee Jay have not been a waste. They always speak highly of us, and that makes the task of finding some sort of substantial living even more important because I'd like to be able to make enough to help them the way they've helped me.
Anyone at all might have any thoughts or suggestions on what I might be able to do to help them out? Anything?
I can't say we were rich or anything growing up, but to be perfectly honest, we were never left wanting either. At least, as far as i can tell and from what they've told me, they've never had to really struggle to make ends meet. But now. Things are alot different.
My mother hasn't gotten a job since Delta laid her off (I have no respect for that company after what they did to both my parents...) and then she's been at home taking care of Danny whenever he's home and of course taking care of the house and finances and stuff. My dad retired, but I think Delta didn't give him the pension he deserved (especially not after 30 years in the company) so since then he's been trying to find ways to cut corners to make ends meet. He can't get a job again because of his condition and from what he says his language barrier (my dad speaks english just fine, he just doesn't trust himself to use it with people for fear of embarrassment) My mom can't get a job because then there'd be no one to take care of Danny.
It's been on my mind alot since I've moved up north. It makes me feel even worse when i think about the money they've given me to get here, when Dee Jay and I couldn't find a loan our second year, plane tickets for christmas break and stuff, that confrontation we had with US Bank (the bastards...) Hell, even when mom was getting money from Rico, she told him to give it to me so I could use that to pay bills and supplies. When my uncle was paying them back for the money they loaned him she told him to put it in my account instead. They've always helped us out. I try not to run to mom and dad with my problems, but if there's a situation I know is rough or we're unsure about I go to them for advice and help.
And now we're here. My mom calls me up and we were talking about finances and she says if nothing changes, they've only got enough to live out the year. She talked about going back to PR with dad (it's much cheaper there) but she hates it over there. (actually, save for my dad, we ALL hated being there, lol!) She worried about how they'd sell the house with the market the way it is, and they don't feel that they can leave yet; not without knowing if my brother would have a place to live or my uncle or me and Dee Jay...and I can completely understand that. If it was just my parents, they personally don't mind living anywhere if it's just the two of them. But alot of people depend on them; that house might as well be a boarding house, with all the people that have lived there to get back on their feet, lol! So when she asked how offended I'd be if she asked if I'd be able to stay in FL for a little while so we can all pool money into the house to keep it going (if it came down to it) how could I say no? I mean, I said i'd have to talk to Dee Jay about it too; I wouldn't make this decision all by myself. But just me speaking, yeah, I'd totally do it.
They've always given when the family needed help; now they need the help. Now they're struggling and scrimping and it hurts to hear them worry about money the way I do here. I want to do something so badly for them and I don't even know where to start. I've tried to do commissions for years, but that never seems to work (as in I can never seem to get anyone to buy anything, lol) ...not even sure what sort of commission work I can do now that I'm spending so much time doing senior project anyway. Another thought would be to sell whatever art i've made while being here (after i can document it of course; I need some record of what I've done here) but I don't know how people feel about "student" work.
I don't know. I just don't. All I do know is that I want to do something, anything to help them stay on their feet. I think this is one of those reasons i try so hard to do well in school. Not only for myself, but so that they know that their investments in me and Dee Jay have not been a waste. They always speak highly of us, and that makes the task of finding some sort of substantial living even more important because I'd like to be able to make enough to help them the way they've helped me.
Anyone at all might have any thoughts or suggestions on what I might be able to do to help them out? Anything?