Just a little timeline of my Tuesday...that acted like a Monday. With sordid vengeance.
I agreed to help moms at school with hallway decoration so I jumped in my car to head up to school. Car didn't start.
Popped hood. Had no idea what I was looking for. Acted like I did when neighbor guy walked up and offered help. He messed with battery cables. Car started. Once again I was off.
While helping at school, I got two emails for potential jobs I had applied for. Make that past-potential jobs. Both emails told me they had already hired someone. Bummed, but I kept going
All the moms made an impromptu plan to take the kids to lunch as a "thank you" for being so good while we worked. Knowing I have no extra, fluff money in my budget, my sweet daughter tried desperately to take herself out of the equation by doing something else. Still she was invited to go and told me all she wanted anyway was a sweet tea. Humiliation sets in.
On the way home, I got another email. This time regarding my unemployment and how the 'paperwork' (though it was done via internet) was messed up and they are working on getting me a payment. Just don't know when it will be.
I stopped by apartment office to tell them I got laid-off two weeks ago (call me optimistic, but I was actually hoping to have a job and therefore, an income by now so I hadn't discussed anything with them). I told them I know September rent isn't due for a couple weeks, but in anticipation of not having a paycheck by then, was there anyway a good tenant of almost two-years, who has never even been late with a rent check could possibly pay 1/2 on the 1st and 1/2 on the 15th? Answer is a smile and a "No". In fact, she informed me they would be sending me an eviction notice by the 5th if the rent isn't received in full by the 3rd. Long-shot, but didn't hurt to ask. Surprised by how quickly they evict, though. Sorry...just never been a subject that I ever thought would be in my life so I guess I was under the impression it would take more than being a couple days late to kick you and your kids out when they've never been a 'problem' in the past. Silly me.
Head still spinning, I went home and make myself and Ben lunch since Belle went to a friend's house. Pulled up emails on my laptop and started prepping for a phone interview I had in an hour and a half. When I walked back to kitchen and saw there was an envelope in the door. Inside was a letter from the apartment complex letting me know my lease expires at the end of October and if I do wish to renew it, my monthly rent will go up by $100 a month.
I called them explaining this is quite exorbitant and reminded them of not only my being a good tenant, on time with rent, never cause issues and rarely call maintenance, but also that the front/main security gate (as well as all the side gates) have been broken 90% of the time I've lived here (almost two years!) and that's an amenity/feature we pay for. I reminded them I've been patient about that, as have all the tenants. We haven't demanded money off our rent and they should consider customer loyalty in this circumstance.
"I'll make sure and pass your message on to corporate...". Gee thanks. This isn't over.
Shelby came home and headed to her room to change. "Eeeeeeeeeeeeck!" Came out, arms flapping screaming there's a mouse in her room.
You have GOT to be kidding me.
Maintenance called. Mouse trap set. Little girl sad upon finding out it will kill said mouse. I explained how they carry disease, bacteria, etc... . "Oooooh. Gross." All is fine again.
Phone rang. It was someone I really didn't want to talk to and whenever this person calls, it's always drama/problems/stress. No. It was no one who reads this.
Now...I'm in bed. I'm worn out. As I look back on the day, half-way chuckling at it all...It's easy to admit I'm tired of being embarrassed about my life. I'm tired of somehow, and very unintentionally, being pathetic in the eyes of my friends. I know, I know, I know, I know the stuff I have going on is beyond old for them. I KNOW THIS. They would probably search the skies for pigs if I didn't have some kind of something going wrong. IT'S HUMILIATING. I do not enjoy it. I do not want hand-outs. I knew this was going to be tough. I just didn't know HOW tough. I'm a household of one income. When something happens to that income, no matter how much I plan for success, all hell breaks loose. At some point, I'm sure my friends think (and even the ones closest to me)..."Good grief! What are you doing that is causing all this?"
I know I'm making good choices. The best ones I have available to me. God knows I am, too. That's all that matters, right?
So don't worry friends...I won't be contacting you to air any of my 'issues'. When you text me tomorrow and ask how things are, ask if I have any job leads, etc...I'll say, "All is fine! It's a new day!"
Because it will be.
As KO sweetly said today, "You are a strong, faithful woman and friend who has been caught up in a series of bad events. I'm proud to call you my friend and you are anything but 'pathetic." I'm going to choose to believe that.
Once again (for the umpteenth time), I eternally grateful for the friends who have been so sweet. So patient. So supportive. Never ignoring my same song, twenty-fourth verse stuff. Always there for me. I hope and pray I always treat my friends with that type of unconditional love. I'll always make time for you.
Even when I'm a big-whig in the job I'm surely about to get offered. :) Wherever that may be!
Always remember and never forget: It doesn't matter how often you get knocked down. It only matters how often you get back up.
No comments:
Post a Comment