MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN - My Son Respects ME!

Hello, Dear Readers!

Missed me?

How is your summer going? I hope it is well.

Mine has been busy and has caused for alto for adjusting.

But things are GRAND! Life is good!

I have something new to share with you all. It's about time right? I know.

THIS STATEMENT I POSTED ON FACEBOOK A DAY OR SO AGO, has actually inspired a whole lot of dialogue. I hope you get a chance to read this"

My son said, "Mom I respect U as a person & as a mother. People R as strong as their weaknesses. U operate in strength. I say this in love... truthfully, U scare the hell out of me! A little bit like I'm scared of God. He loves me & U love me... I still remember when I said something (bad) 2 U & was walking out of the apt., U pulled me back, grabbed me, hulking me & put me in a headlock until I listened." :)

That's right, a healthy fear!

A fear bred out of knowing you are loved, cared for, provided for, nurtured, listened to and forgiven. Causing one to recognize and respect authority and the law. Encouraging strength, sharing wisdom and knowledge to arm ones self with so that they may have, seek and seize better opportunities to grow, live a successful, purposed life! Building hope that the child or person may move to a high standard of living, based on morals and integrity and provide guidance to hopefully carry them through this life as safely as possible! Understanding, the fear I speak of is the kind of fear that comes out of a genuine love that comes to prosper and not to harm. A love that promises to give hope and a future. Amen?

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NEW DIALOGUE

I knew the dreaded day would come, when my sweet teenage son would want to assert himself in independence and I would have to muster the courage and stamina to rise to the occasion to make sure it didn't get out of hand with disrespect of me, my house and himself.

This included laying down and upholding the law, of voicing your thoughts and opinions, but no rudeness, back talking, hanging out in the streets with the bad crowds, making babies you are not prepared to take care of, having girls in his room AT MY HOUSE, coming home all times of night, having a know it all smart mouth, telling me what to do (like he's my Dad,) sort of thing. This is the the time in a boys life that "old school" calls, "when a boy starts to smell himself". Puberty has struck and hormones start to influence the the mouth and actions.

A single mother, without ANY STEADY, right help from a loving male... I was left to raise a boy to be a man, on my own. Like many of you! he's 20 now, but I knew the day would come when my then, teenage son would want to assert himself and end up being disrespectful. It was VERY TOUGH! I realized, I couldn't answer every question he had concerning being a male, what he would go through as his body and mind changed, why he had to pee while he stood and why I had to sit. (He asked me the when he was 4 or 5). I realized I had to come form a different angle, if I wanted to be a proactive parent to him as I was the only one he had! I had to figure things out in order to do a fairly decent job of being a mother. Believe me, it was quite a struggle as I dint' have mother I could take ALL knowledge from to help me figure out how to do that!

I realized I COULD NOT TEACH HIM how to be a man, per say, but I realized I COULD and DID TEACH HIM how to properly treat women, and other human beings, how to say NO TO DRUGS, CRIME AND PEER PRESSURE and why that is important. I could teach him that HE IS BEAUTIFUL, special in confidence, not arrogance and that he is ALREADY SOMEBODY!

I could and did teach my male child how A True GENTLEMAN

TREATS WOMEN. That such a man, does not take sex from a woman. He does not seek to dominate a woman, but to accept her for her own distinctive beauty, gifts, talents, and personality. My son KNOWS there is MUCH MORE to a woman than just her outer exterior. He's had the fortune and misfortune of watching me!

He knows not that women are not play things, The pain he may cause by dragging her self esteem, her heart, and reputation through the mud.He understands that REAL MEN do NOT beat, humiliate or destroy ANY WOMAN women or the weak for sport. He's watched certain males in the family and the continuos deep trouble they have caused by their mistreatment of their families and mates!He understands that REAL MEN, take care of those they love! Taking care of their children even if they are not living in the same home!My son understands the pain of abandonment by a parent. He had vowed not to repeat it!

My son knows from my abusive treatment as a child and youth, that brothers protect their sisters and not harm them! I've taught him that a true gentleman and mature adult male, DOES NOT brag or tell "his boys" about the intimate relationship details of his personal life with his girlfriend or wife. I've also taught him NOT TO LET females drag him down, manipulate him or abuse him in any way! I've told him how WE females can be as well!

My son and I, have spoke many times over the years, a mans place in his household and in the world. While it is true that I could not teach my son to be a man, from a man's point of view, I've done my best other wise!

At least my son understands the value of respecting human life, authority and the law. I could and did teach him how to be a decent, respectable, God fearing, intelligent, productive, loving and compassionate human being. I realized I could pass on my strength, wisdom through LIFE LESSONS lessons opening his eyes, HAVING NO USE FOR ROSE COLORED GLASSES, but to see things as they are really happening, to be knowing, vocal and courageous. I leaned to appreciate the gift of communication with my son. AND TO KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN, even when my son tells me something I really don't want to hear! See, if I value him, then I value his thoughts!

I've given my son and opened my son up to knowledge to cause him to be a responsible, person. He knows how to grocery shop (wisely), pay bills, by having him go get the money orders, and pay the landlord, send to DTE etc. He knows about saving money. He's learned how to dress appropriately and speak to people in business, to get his point across and not be cussing, using alot of slang or being belligerent! He's learned how not to let those same people mistreat him as a customer and human being. I've taught him how to apply for jobs, speak to potential employers, how to conduct himself in an interview and on the job. How to interview the potential employer! After all, employment, is both give and take!

TALK TO YA AGAIN SOON!

Meetta

MEETTA'S READERS - YOUR CONCERN FOR ME!

HELLO READERS!

Many of you are very amazing in sharing your compassion for me, especially about what I've been sharing of my life, as of late. Others of you think I should be ashamed for what I wrote of my abuse as a child and how it has affected my life. I say to you, May peace find you and remain. May it free you from your own personal prison. May the blinders of your hearts and minds come off and you shall see clearly once again or for the first time.

As for me, I will not wear the chains of shame EVER again! My blinders are off and burned. If you truly know me, or have ever been in my company as a friend or foe, then you can attest to the fact that I walk and stand with my head held high. I hold eye contact and I also speak in a loud, clear voice. There is no shame in me as a victim of abuse. So, don't expect it!

As for the compassionate writers of concern for the personal stories and soul bearing poetry that I share on my blog sight, I say AGAIN...THANK YOU! Thank you, for taking time out to write me sharing your compassion, words of concern and wisdom. May my soul bearing, be a gifting to someone else to encourage them to fight for their freedom, their peace of mind, their restored Joy, their dignity and their self worth. May they find their voice!

*This is a Re-post from 3/13/2011

Some of you are very caring and open with your concern for me. I appreciate you.

You have expressed your concern, in light of what I have been moved to share on this site in a variety of Biblical Scriptures, personal stories and poems over the years. Some of you have shown great compassion by saying

"Be careful Meetta, Be careful in what you write and share."

You have said this "because people can be cruel. And somebody, somewhere, in their misery is always lurking about to take something of someone else's and use it against them, even that which is meant for good purposes."

I SAY IN RESPONSE:

THANK YOU Dear readers and friends. Those of you who have taken the time to share your compassion with me. But please do not think me unwise for being bold and courageous enough to use some of my own life to empower others. I have "wise counsel". I have used and will continue to use great wisdom and discernment with what I share. I am not a babe just born and stumbling through this life. If there is something I don't have a peace about sharing, I won't. If there is something I have written and need to retract, I will retract it.

As far as the personal stories I share, I have spent my whole childhood and young adult years living in shame because of what someone else did and said. It had control of me. But I've come to learn over the course of my life, "Whom the Lord sets free is free indeed". Concerned Reader, I WILL NOT LET THE MISERY OF OTHERS PUT ME IN THOSE CHAINS AGAIN!

By the same token, If someone takes ANYTHING I say here, and try and use it against me, then the battle becomes between them and the Lord Jesus Christ! I am a Christ Child. I am a believer and follower of Christ Jesus, even in and because of, all my flaws. But I am striving. The bottom line is, I have accepted Jesus as the Lord of my life. I have put my life into his hands. So for that, He will "raise up a standard against the enemy" on my behalf. Lord! May God help them, because what I share, is for the purpose of building others up and that they may have Godly peace and healing in their lives. It is my hope that they use what they read here, in my life stories and come to know Jesus and God for themselves! So, if someone comes against me for righteousness sake, then the Lord will protect me. Just as he has protected me all these years from letting the ways of this world destroy me.

It was determined for my life, by the Grace of God, that not only should I survive the madness that was bestowed against me, but that I should become a victor over it! Not only for my benefit, but to the benefit of others and ultimately to the glory of God. I thank God for his new mercies and protection by acknowledging him openly, through sharing my stories and strength. So, I say Again...

I will not let the misery of others determine the direction of my life.

But I hear you all!

"People will gossip, even whisper behind your back discussing you!". As it has been both told to me and something I've experienced for myself. They will even go so far as to sneak around you to find out more about you to talk about! I've dealt with that before too!

For example, someone at work who was nosey like that was lurking around me and a buddy during a lunchtime conversation. This person just kept easing around us trying to hear what they could hear. Knowing full well they didn't care about either one of us otherwise! People do that kind of stuff all the time!

Some people even get to the point that they end up putting alot of energy into you andyour stuff! Even reveling in your pain and misfortune. Sometimes I get frustrated about why some people don't get that they can experience the same healing power and freedom that Jesus promises and continues to perform in others lives! Gods power can out weigh any problem or stronghold that you have.

But Misery...loves company and it doesn't care who it uses to get that company! And it's never satisfied. So it keeps seeking. It's fights back hard, fooling people into thinking they are OK! That they don't have to change because the problem is not with them! That the problem is

with everybody else! Which is all a lie, because not one person on this earth is completely free of flaws and things that cannot be made better in them! Nevertheless,

In spite of and despite misery's attacks, I will press on in the work encouraging on my blog site. And f

or the sake of easing your mind with the purpose of sharing like I do here, with you all, please read the following.

Acts 4 :3-4

"They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed and the number of men grew to about five thousand."

FOOTNOTES

ACTS 4:3-4

"Seldom will sharing the gospel send us to jail as it did Peter and John. Still, we run the risk in trying to win others to Christ. We might be willing to face a night in jail if it would bring 5,000 people to Christ, but shouldn't we also be willing to suffer for the sake of even one?

What do you risk in witnessing--Rejections, persecution?

Whatever the risks, realize that nothing done for God is ever wasted."

I love you Dear Readers for your concern.

It brings Joy to my heart, a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.

THANK YOU ever so much!

May the Peace and Grace of God be forever upon you!

May he honor your concern, for even me.

Meetta J. Martin

MEETTA TALKS - "STRIP ME"

**To listen to the video music, take these few quick steps first.

First, Click the (play) triangle, (pause it), then click it again. This will get the sound quickly buffered. Wait for a few moments, then it will begin. When you see the red line at the bottom of the video grow dark all the way across, click the play button again and it will play without stopping until the song is completed. After that, if you want to replay, just click the replay and it will begin right away because it's already buffered.

Hey Readers,

Lately, I've been writing about finding your voice and how I found mine.

Often, I find music that echoes or strengthen what I'm saying in my writings as I am moved to post them on my blog. I do this also to entertain you while you read, as well as give you further insight into who I am. In fact all of the music on this site is intended to do that. That's why its such a variety of music. It's funny. As much as my writings cause me to come to life, if you will, so does the music I choose also. When I find a song that is fitting, I'll play them over an over again while I'm typing. It keeps my juices flowing and ideas come to me that way too. It's a real show I tell you.

You should see me, I type to the rhythm! Though not yet an accomplished musician, I use my key pad as my piano. My fingers move very swiftly and to time! The computer keypad is my instrument of choice. Unlike a singer, who uses music and a microphone to get heard, the computer and it's components are apart of what I use to get mine heard. And while the music plays as I am inspired, I move my arms and bounce in my seat. Sometimes, I just go ahead, get up and cut loose, dancing until it's out of me. You should see it Reader! You laugh, but I can really move! (Ha, Ha) Anyway, I tell you what I go through while typing to paint a picture that you can see. I am a very passionate person in what I believe and in what adds life to me. I do so hope that you are as inspired as much as I am, by some of what you read and hear on this site. That's all I have to say really except, Find your voice!

AND DON'T LET ANYONE TAKE IT FROM YOU! Thanks for listening.

"STRIP ME"

Song co-written and performed By Natasha Bedingfield.

From the Movie "Morning Glory" soundtrack

*(Some of my favorite verses, that are closest to me form this song.)

"Every day I fight for my all future somethings.

A thousand little wars I have to choose between....

......

....And if you strip me, strip it all away, what will you find... I'll be alright.

Take what you want....

build me up or cut me down to size,

...Shut me out, but I'll just scream!

"I'm only one voice in a million,

BUT YOU AIN'T TAKING THAT FROM ME!"

You ain't taking that from me. You ain't taking that from me!

"I don't need a microphone to say what I been thinking.

My heart is like a loud speaker that's always on 11

and if you strip me...

strip it all away...I'm still the same...

....

...at the end of the say, it's what you do and say

that makes you who you are....Think about it....

Sometimes all it takes is 1 voice

TAKE WHAT YOU WANT... steal my pride..."

...

but I'll just scream!

I'm only 1 voice in a million!

BUT YOU AIN'T TAKING THAT FROM ME!

No, you ain't taking that from me!

MEETTA TALKS ~ "Glimpsers" & "Sound-Biters"

Hey Reader!

Welcome back to "Meetta Talks"!

Something that saddens me.

It's lonely and tough enough in a world where there are so many people. It's even worse knowing that many connections between us are not being made, when they so easily could be! So much added negativity and stress when their could be peace and unity. When it comes to connecting with and knowing people, many of us like to play it "safe". We stay to the outside,

we always have our guards up, we won't even let family and others get to too close to us really. Why?

In this vast world, though we could really be enjoying the full scope of relationships with people, for different reasons we choose not to! Unfortunately, we are a generation full of people who enjoy "glimpses" and "sound bItes". We collect these glimpses and sound bytes by watching lives from the outside rather than connecting and knowing them form the inside. Based on our limited information, we still manage to form opinions and many times, wrongly so. We often do this, but not even realizing what we are doing!

By natural design, humans need to be connected, but many of us don't know how to do that. That makes me sad, for myself and for others. We want to know people, but only just enough! We don't understand how much we are truly missing by denying ourselves the opportunity and gift of truly getting to know some people. So many gifts, talents, interesting world views and friendships we let pass us by unknowingly. As human beings, we want to understand each other, and feel wanted. We have that innate desire to feel this way. We honestly want more companionship, but we choose to remain on the outside getting frustrated because "we just don't understand" (really its, we don't want to accept) the way others are. Despite this knowledge, even when it's brought to our attention, we choose to remain in our own little comfortable bubble, but still wanting to know what's on the outside of it!

Have you experienced adults, Grown people, eaves dropping or "butting in" on your conversations with others when they weren't invite to do so?

What about when they ask odd, quick questions right out of the blue or make snide remarks, saying them quickly or low cause the think they know you when really on the inside they know they don't? But they want to know about you, but without really having to know you!

Then why care? My thing is, I must be important for someone to want to know me in ANY capacity! Especially to those who spend time choosing to take negative direction in doing so! I must be fascinating on some level! Too bad we don't invest enough POSITIVE ENERGY in people.

It's a dilemma why so many of us choose to live this way. Want to know someone, or what's what's going on with them?

Then invest the time and genuine interest to do so!

But many, many people don't want to do that! They prefer to be "glimpsers" and "sound biters" reaping only bits of pieces of someone. Which just about amounts to them being C.C.'s (chaos Creators) especially when they spread their edited, ideas about someone onto anybody with a listening ear! And alot of times the people they are telling their tainted opinions about, don't even know the person they are talking about or even have met them! Thus, Chaos Creating because now you have someone disliking some unknown person to them because of what you said in your limited knowledge of that person, spreading negativity rather than love! I've found this kind of behaviour to be very true among controlling and miserable people. I've had my share of dealings.

That is what lead me to become sad. Sad about myself or anybody wanting to be accepted and have to endure such things ! Though many of us have gone through such things as I have mentioned. There is so much more to a person than just the sound bites or glimpses people get when they stand on the outside looking in, even thought they really don't have to. If you are not going to invest in someone who apparently has your interest, then find some other way to spend your thoughts rather than focusing on somebody you really have no interest in knowing! It will make you crazy concerning yourself needlessly what that person is doing? What's going on in their life? Where do they go? or How do they spend their time? Concern yourselves with YOUR life, what you are doing, what's going on in your life, where you go, and how you spend your time?

Glimpsers, Sound biters & Chaos Creators! Hmph!

Still, people enjoy the glimpses and sound bites. They're easy and "safe", if you will.

Relationships take work and our generation are full of lazy, selfish, high minded, judgemental people! Why would they invest in relationships, friendships etc. that they don't necessarily want anyway! Right? Yeah!

What is the REAL REASON? I wonder.

Maybe it's because they think the person is not worth getting to know. Thereby causing the glimpser, etc. to seem haughty, over-valuing themselves while under-valuing the other person!

Or could it be they genuinely don't want to get attached. Maybe they think they can have the same viewpoint at a distance that they can have if the invested themselves, but without the work. Or perhaps, they are afraid of what they may discover about themselves while getting to know you! Hmm? On the other hand, some people like just like the bubbles they live in. They're comfortable!

My mind is buzzing with something my son has said to me, several times in these last few months. You never think your kid gets it then WHAMMO! They tell you something that makes you think they are alright people! What my son said to me both saddened me and made me know that I was loved and appreciated.

My son said to me, "Mom, you challenge people!" You know people have told you that themselves, even a couple of Pastors that I remember! Sometimes it meant a good thing, sometimes not! Others, for whatever reason never told you and never will, but it's obvious. They are the ones who stay on the outside of your life, afraid or unwilling to come in and find out who you really are. They are comfortable in their own circle, but you are interesting so they pay attention. IF YOU WEREN'T a challenge, THEY WOULDN'T PAY YOU ANY ATTENTION OR SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT YOU. MOM, THERE IS SOMETHING AMAZING ABOUT YOU THAT GETS PEOPLES' ATTENTION. Unfortunately, both negative and positive. Don't try to figure it out. just be you and keep being you, for better or worse."

He went on to say, "I hate to see you sad and hurting. If know you want to be accepted, but you rare just not by many of those you want to accept you! SO ACCEPT THAT! Unfortunately, they never really come to know the truth about you and you hurt over it STOP IT! You are not at all what some people think you are or should be! There is something powerful about you that many people can't, want to or know how to deal with. That thing, whatever it is, your strength, your passion, your experiences in life and the way you speak about those things. "

"You are strong, you go through tough things, get knocked down, but you get back up. You hope! You dream and push on. YOU are strong! You have your own mind and there are people that don't like that about you. They don't understand that your life has called for you to be that way. They think it a burden, but for you, it's survival! They want you or expect you to be a certain way and when they find out you aren't like that and refuse to let them have their way in your life, they back away. Don't take that onto yourself, when really it's them they should be having issues with! No you're not perfect. You've made alot of mistakes, but who hasn't? The thing is, you hurt over them though! They don't know this and so you remain a strange to thing to them."

"Mom, I've seen people treat you bad when you didn't deserve it. You don't know it, but I watch AND LISTEN! I'm your son and I've heard people talk about you (when they thought I couldn't hear them or paying attention). When I heard them and a how they treated you, how they acted and what they were saying, showed me they didn't really know you. They don't care to know you! Yeah you say some things you shouldn't and you can be stubborn annoyingly so! But you still don't deserve to be dogged out! I've seen you be nice to people and they turn around and be mean or act strange. I think they take it out on you, because they don't want to face the truth about themselves...whatever that is!"

MISERY.

Miserable people, somehow manage to infiltrate our lives, don't' they?

Good thing many people come in our lives for a "season" lest we all be miserable!

Here for awhile and gone somewhere else in the next.

It saddens me that anyone experiences that much that misery in the first place! And that that they find it hard to appreciate another God given Life...for WHATEVER REASON!

Life is already hard enough! We have to live on this planet together somehow!

Let's make the best of it people! Gees!

LEARN TO LIVE IN PEACE, PEOPLE!

Even with just yourself at first!

Peace, just like misery, will spread like wildfire!

Peace is just as note worthy, but is more welcomed and comes with greater rewards!

ON THE JOB-You're Gonna Pay Me WHAT?

Hello Readers!

Remember! This is where I write about job situations.

I get to do a lot of venting in this one. I write about a variety of subjects including tips to better your organizational skills. Employee services your job may offer was a good topic! More than once, have I written about How to balance your work and leisure lives. etc. etc.

Today though, what erks me, is the little pay that mature adults are continually being offered and expected to accept. And because of the economy and need of the people, what they are being forced to accept as pay, is always mind blowing! And this is supposed to inspire a job well done! This an insult to the people who need to work for income! See, I've met some people on jobs, that have bragged that they "really don't need the money. I just do this to get out of the house! I just wanted something to do!" Some things we shouldn't say out loud!

Can you believe the audacity of them, to say that in the face of hardworking people. People who are trying desperately to support their families and themselves! UGH!!!!! I'm gonna need a minute to cool down.....

....OK. I'm back. Not SO angry, but still very much disgusted! And I have this to say.

"IF YOU CAN BRAG ABOUT NOT REALLY NEEDING THE MONEY your earning,

STOP SPITTING IN THE FACE OF YOUR CO-WORKERS AND QUIT!

GET OUT OF THE WAY AND MAKE ROOM FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

SOMEONE, WHO MAY REALLY NEED THE INCOME!

HOW DARE YOU LET anybody HEAR YOU SAY THAT! SERIOUSLY!

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DO, FINE!

Idleness is not good for anybody!

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities, ESPECIALLY with chronic company cutbacks. YOU LIKE WHERE YOU WORK, don't want to leave, but

don't really need the money? FINE!

STOP accepting the pay and BE A VOLUNTEER !

I'm sure they'll be glad to have you working for free!

Other wise, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, bragger! Who needs that around them!

Yes! I do feel better! Thanks for being concerned!

Anyway, recently, one of my dear and closest friends told me that at 46 years of age, her current rate of pay is $7.40 per hour. Since work is scarce she is only "on call" right now. Sometimes, she doesn't work for weeks on end! The temporary agency she got that job through, gets paid $4.00 above her wage for every hour she works! Where traditionally, the job she has through them, would pay $11.00 per hour if the company she (actually) works for would have hired her privately. THAT OUTRAGES ME! Who is this helping? Certainly not my friend, who her employers say is "a dependable and reliable hard worker", but they don't reward her like it!

I understand the companies avoid paying insurance for their employees and get other government allowed incentives, but IT'S NOT RIGHT! It's not right that ANY company can BY LAW, pay such small penance to their employees, particularly in this day and age! Everybody can't afford to work two and three jobs continually! That's about what it takes to make ends meet for the average person with responsibilities.

I personally know people (I've often been one) who have worked multiple jobs at a time! After a while, (all be it a long while) you figure out, you can't keep doing that! Health concerns, family obligations, and efforts towards a higher education, boldly thwart multiple job ideals for many! Multiple jobs may be OK when your twenties, and maybe when you are well into your thirties, but for many of us, multiple jobs. To HAVE TO do it beyond that, is ridiculous! While it is true that working certain jobs for a long period of time can directly negatively affect your health, you increase e the wear and tear on your body when you double the beating it's taking by having multiple jobs, especially in your older years!

You end up with all sorts of multiple health problems including bad knees, (cartilage is worn down faster between the joints) bad back, hip replacements, varicose veins, pinch shoulder nerves, blood clots in the legs, arthritis. These are some of the ailments that afflict people I personally know. Their ailments are the affects of their work life including multiple job tasking (along with aging. Some of these directly affect me. My doctor, after asking me many job related questions formed the opinion of my standing, walking and aging, have caused weakening in my body in certain areas. AND FOR WHAT? A SMALL PENANCE!

Many of us, like my dear friend STILL CANT PAY THE BASICS BILL REGULARLY AND ON TIME! Even while budget. OK! For those you who may want to argue that point with me.

Here goes, YOU CAN BUDGET ALL YOU WANT, BUT IF YOU DONT HAVE ENOUGH...

YOU JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH! And that's how many people fall behind in their bills. Not because they waste their money like many others do!

Many people, honestly budget! They have made and continue to make serious down sizing, lifestyle changes. Own no credit cards, no big debts, still they get halfway through their monthly bill paying and find that, their cell phones, their Internet, cable (a small pleasure). They no longer shop at department stores, mostly at flea markets and resale shops for clothing. They let go of their mortgages, sell their homes (even though they are paid off) and downsize their living spaces! Many find even THAT IS NOT ENOUGH! They go even further, sell off one of the cars, Carpool to work, eventually the other car breaks down, cant afford to keep repairing it, so..they sell it. Sell it and use some of the money to try and catch up on a utility bill or two and with the rest buy monthly bus passes, until they can figure out something else!

Some of these people have lost their home all together and living in a shelter or "transitional housing" with their whole family, the husband wife and the kids. Had to give up the dog, because they couldn't afford to feed it or keep up the vet bills, not to mention the own health insurance! And they're still working but for small penance. And while they are their in the shelter or transitional housing, they are expected to save some of their mere income to prepare them to go back out into their own residence once again. ON WHAT THEY'RE MAKING, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT WILL TAKE? Even with both parent working?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE ?

I'm curious!

These people who pay taxes too, just like you! The same people who, against their OWN, had to accept a government food stamp card and monthly groceries from the church, so they can feed their families EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WORKING PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU! But what they are being paid is A SMALL PENANCE!

Some of you mock your co-workers, because they don't a vehicle to get back and forth to eh job like you! You mick them because they walk and take the bus! They don't' need your pity! They need your understanding. If you're going to help them and help them with discretion, to allow them to keep their dignity...Do them a real favor and LEAVE THEM ALONE!

Because technically, you are not that far from being them!

What do you have to say to those people? Come on! I'm curious.

In the mean time, they've already, lost their better paying jobs AND NOW ARE Working for small penance! Two and three jobs, in their older age, running themselves further into the ground! I KNOW OF TWO OLDER WOMEN, who worked so hard to maintain and both unfortunately died of heart attacks while still on the job even! Both, had been wearing themselves down working multiple jobs. One died in the bathroom. Said she hadn't been feeling well but was so strapped for money trying to keep her bills up, she couldn't afford to take too many days off. When she didn't come out of the bathroom, they got the employee key and went in after her. They found her dead. She had had a massive heart attack!

The other one was a friend of mine. She was also one of my bosses long ago. She died last year in the middle of her work day. I was told she was talking and laughing with her employees, they turned around and she had dropped right the floor. They tried desperately to resuscitate even before the EMS came, but it was too late! Her funeral was 2 days before her birthday and that was one woman who enjoyed a party! So, I know she was siked about her birthday.

I'VE NEVER GONE TO A FUNERAL WHERE SO MANY CORPORATE PEOPLE SHOWED UP.

But what did that, do for her?

Her bosses, some serious big wigs, came to support her family. That was nice of them. She was an awesome worker! She worked tirelessly running two of their stores, (often times, both in the same day!) She'd work regularly 18 hours a day. A single mother who raised 3 or 4 children and grandchildren, on her own. My friend was in her early 50's.

Grown, mature adults working these jobs, killing themselves for $7.15, $7.80, $8.00, $8.50 per hour and part-time on top that! Working without benefits that the people can REALISTICALLY AFFORD! BUT OH! THEY BETTER NOT TAKE TOO MANY SICK DAYS!

"YOU'RE GONNA PAY ME WHAT?"

My dear friend, making the $7.40 has also has gotten another temporary job that offers her $8.00 per hour in cash, but only a temporary, one shot deal, for 4 days work, right now! Currently, her house is in foreclosure, her car broke down after multiple fixes. So her husband sold it for junk. He sold the other car too! She has saved some money and looking to purchase a well working used vehicle to up her chances at getting a better job, but imagines it will be well into the suburbs, ratter than the city. She's already greatly concerned about the cost of gas, the wear and tear and ultimate repairs on a car she hasn't even purchases yet!

She is not proud to work, and taking what she can find. She has many years hands on Managerial experience, but that ended 2 years ago. Her financial situation, has bean in a downward spiral ever since. Its not right! These companies pay such a small penance and want the best workers.

As one of my other dear friends said to me last night on the phone, it's nice when the boss recognizes you for the work you do and says "Thank you", but I NEED MONEY! I got a housenote, a car note, house repairs and utility bills. Thanks don't always cut it. I'm up in years too! What am I gonna do?" This friend is retired form another job, but still has to have extra income like most of us! And she's well beyond 40, 50, and even 60 years of age!

She's currently working a part-time job, making about $8.80 per hour.

YOU'RE GONNA PAY ME WHAT?