Dark times. Lighten up?
Whoa.
From the complete lack of Comments on that last post of mine it looks like I bummed people out, freaked them out, or scared them away. Not that I was looking for it, but nobody even left an easy to say, “It’ll all be OK, Milton” comment. Wow. Sorry, folks.
I was stressing, BIG TIME (couldn’t tell, could you?). And it didn’t help that I felt most of life and time being out of my control. Rush here! Go there! Get that done! Do not pass Go! Do not collect $2000 (thanks, FEMA)! But you only have until X:00, because every business closes in the next hour!
I’m feeling stronger and more optimistic about our situation, (for) now.
I have regained perspective that while I am less fortunate than most around me (especially at my new temp job, where practically everyone had NO damage, or maybe some lost shingles or ruined sheds), there are HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS out there who have no work, no car, no home, no money, no family to take care of them, and no light at the end of their tunnel. And while we haven’t made it through to where we want to be, yet, I realize we are “blessed”. Heart-felt gratitude goes to every person who has helped us be as blessed as we are, including ourselves!
Here’s the thing – while I ain’t no wussy, I’ve never been Mr. Macho Manly-Man, either. I am the type of guy who seeks and relies on the psychological support of my circle of friends and family in times of crisis and doubt. This event has hit me about as hard as or harder than anything else that comes to mind. And while I am normally a reasonably happy, emotionally secure man, my current losses and situation have knocked me for a loop, something fierce. It’s perfectly normal to experience Fear and Insecurity in GOOD times, when they serve to fuel caution and good sense to keep us safe. In this Disaster, they have made a mad grab for power, and sometimes it’s all I can do to keep them at bay. And a few of those times I haven’t been able to. I am showing symptoms of emotional trauma. To add insult to injury, I didn’t go through events HALF as bad as MissyG, but she has worked past her trauma and I have not. I guess I experience it and work it out differently. Friends help. Venting helps. Being rooted, again, might help.
Good news helps, so I welcome ANY good news ANYBODY has about anything – even if you just want to tell me you saved a lot of money on car insurance!
Here’s some good news that my brain has finally allowed to sink-in, even though MissyG told me this stuff, already:
It is SUGGESTED by FEMA’s website and on the phone with them that FEMA may provide additional rent/repair assistance for up to 18 months. Well, hell! If that’s TRUE and DOES happen, there may be no better time for MissyG and me to try a new start in another city/state than now. If it’s NOT true, or that suddenly gets yanked, well, hell – we’ll have to figure something out. If attempts at getting Desktop Support work in Austin fail, does anybody have any recommendations for a lucrative career shift for me that won’t require either school time before or jail time after?
P.S. This bit is for you slackers out in Austin – one of you please get a damned job, will you? Criminy! How do you expect to have us come out there and have you support us watching soaps and eating bon-bons all day if none of you bring home the bacon? Chop-chop!