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Falling On Hard Times!

By: Jerry Aragon , Posted On: Monday, November 27, 2006

I think one of American's greatest fears is to be homeless...and, it has always been one of my fears as well. And, in recent years...being homeless has happened to me...TWICE!

My down slide, started back in the 1990's, with SIX job layoffs over a decade or so! And, all my job losses, were for legitimate reasons, such as companies closing; moving out of the country; defense cuts or downsizing, etc. I have never been fired from a job for attitude or attendance problems or anything else!

Millions of people all over the country, over the last decade, have lost their jobs, and I have been one of the more unfortunate ones! It's an awful feeling to lose a job...that awful empty feeling in the stomach...feels like you got hit in the stomach by Mohammed Ali. I felt like I WAS in the ring with Ali...and being knocked down in the 1st round...the 2nd round...the 3rd round...the 4th...the 5th and almost didn't get up in the 6th round...after my 6th job loss, etc!

The ups and downs of it all...that hopeless feeling...the stress...the depression that goes with it! An awful time in my life! My age wasn't helping any, either! All of this happened, when I was turning 50 years of age, and I'm certain ageism (discrimination against older workers) played a part in my downfall, etc. I have no doubt about it, but I could never prove it. During these awful years, I had problems getting a job and/or getting temporary assignments, etc.

It was after my 5th job loss in May, 2004, that things got worse for me, as I had heart problems and a stroke! With no family or support to help me, I found myself facing a judge and got evicted from my apartment...and, for the first time in my life...I was HOMELESS! I never thought something like this could happen to me! "It can't happen to me, right?"

After suffering the stroke, I was taken by ambulance to the VA Medical Center, where I would spend the next 5 weeks recovering. During this terrible time in my life, I was not able to make arrangements to get my possessions out of my apartment...and I LOST EVERYTHING! All my clothes; computer; tv; all my 25 years of art work...GONE! It was my "Katrina" of 2005, and now I know what the victims of the real "Katrina" felt like when they lost all their possessions! A terrible, empty, hollow feeling! I was depressed and devastated! Now, I would do my shopping at the VA thrift store; or do my shopping in the high-rent district of the Salvation Army or Goodwill, etc.

After my discharge from the hospital, I stayed with a friend for about a month...only to return to the hospital, where I stayed for over 3 months this time. A pace-maker was implanted, and my heart problems continued!

UPDATE: May, 2004. That was the update on my website (humordoctormd) in May, 2004, when I was taken by ambulance to the VA for the first time. And now, as far as my website was concerned, I found myself outside the candy store...looking in! But, at the time, I didn't know it would be for over 2 1/2 years! Since my website had been downloaded into my computer, I lost it with everything else!

Twenty eight cents on the dresser...and, that was it...and, the clothes on my back! That's all I had! I felt certain, at the time, that I was going to lose my website for non-payment! After all, it was one of the few things that gave me a little joy in my life! With only 28 cents on the dresser...what was I going to do? At the end of the 3 months of being hospitalized, the VA declared me to be dis-abled and Social Security followed suit. Now, I could look forward to having little money in my pocket to live on. But, as with any government agencies, it would take time.

After I was discharged, I did not have enough money to get a place of my own, so I had to live in a homeless shelter for about six weeks! And yes, for the first time, I ate in a soup line as well! Words cannot express the indignity and embarrassment of having to do something like this! But, on the other hand, I knew I would be coming into some money thru the VA and SS soon, so I knew it would be only a short time, etc. "It can't happen to me, right?"

Since my website was one of the few things that gave me enjoyment during this time, I managed to keep it open by paying the fees. And, I would go to the public library or community college down the street and check on it month after month! It was inspiring to me, because it did give my great joy...a lot of which was missing in my life during this terrible time!

Obviously, telling a complete story like this one, cannot be done in a short article. So, I have plans to write a book, and tell the whole story, etc. But, after I got paid from the VA and SS, things were a little better for me, as I started to re-build...AGAIN...and AGAIN...and AGAIN! Because I lost all my possessions...I bought a spoon and fork there...a bar of soap there...a paper clip...over here...it was going to take time! But, the thought of getting a computer and getting my website back at the time, was out of the question! "It can't happen to me, right?"

Little by little, and throughout 2006, I saved my pennies...and FINALLY...with the help of the disability pensions, I got my computer on Thanksgiving week-end of 2006! My website is big...with over 200 pages and over 500 graphics. And, through glassy eyes and with a lump in my throat, I watched the green lights on the modem do its "light show", as my website took over 20 minutes to download (by phone). I couldn't believe it was all happening after such a long time...I would be getting my website back soon! YAHOO! Looking at the instructions on the computer screen through glassy eyes didn't help...but, for the first time in years...I was so excited!

The first thing I did, after I got my website back, was to change the date from May, 2004...to...November, 2006! YAHOO! High-fives for everyone! With faith in the Lord; positive thinking; humor is the best medicine; and a little GOOD luck for a change...I'm back! SCARY...ISN'T IT?

Article Source: http://www.many-articles.com

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