I am a capitalist, but I strongly believe we have to support and lend a hand to those with fewer resources and opportunities. I believe in giving, caring and sharing. I also believe in personal responsibility, but how can I enjoy my success, when I know my brother is homeless, hungry and afraid.
I don’t want to live in a country where the least of us are forgotten or scorned. I don’t want to live in a country where the color of the skin can determine if you live or die. I have the privilege of being privileged and I am aware of it.
When I dream, I dream big! Give me a glass of wine and get me started on politics -there is no stopping me.
Today, after fighting for 15 months, and for almost four months without my husband’s income, due to an unexpected open-heart surgery, I held the first check in my hand. Given to us by the lawyer we had to hire because the ‘other side’ had lawyered up right from the start.
We had to fight for our rights! We watched our nest egg melt away with two deductibles, used the rest of it to make up for lost income. It added up quickly. First 5K, then 10K, now we are at 23K that we lost.
We were lucky. We are still standing, haven’t lost our home or car. We had food to eat, even allowed ourselves some extras now and then.
I drove to the bank, deposited the first temporary disability check workman’s comp has to send now every Friday during my husband’s recovery from his shoulder surgery. I shudder when I think what could have been. He fell at work! Imagine the same could have happened in our driveway. Same injury, no compensation. We were lucky!
I went back home and felt utterly exhausted. The last months had been hard. Now the worrying is over. I can breathe again, can fall asleep without juggling bills in my mind.
Years ago I joked, made the statement that the middle class is kept busy worrying by the rich. Now I know it wasn’t a joke, that’s exactly what they do. As long as you keep us busy worrying, you can change laws and regulations right in front of us. We won’t care. We are busy putting a roof over our head, we are occupied with worries.
“If poor people knew how rich rich people are, there would be riots in the streets.”
Actor and comedian Chris Rock made this clever statement during a 2014 interview with a New York magazine, referring to the dramatic gap between rich and poor. In doing so, he stumbled upon a key challenge in the study of inequality.
I feel like going to bed and staying there for a few days. For us, the worst is over! I will fall asleep thinking about the ones who still have to worry.
Good points!
I am glad to hear you are on the road to recovery of at least some of your finances. I also hope your husband continues to improve with his therapy.
What a nightmare, I am so glad for you that you are able to wake up and see a future that is possible and I absolutely understand your concern from those who are crushed by the system and do not survive.
We truly have been lucky. What a nightmare it has been. I see things clearer now and don’t like what I see around me.
Did they order it to be backdated?
Yes, starting the day after his surgery.
At the end there will be a settlement coming our way. One year of pain and suffering, even more if he cannot get full use of his shoulder again. It’s a game!
…and they hope to wear you down so you give up. Sadly, a lot have to because they cannot afford to defend their rights. I’m glad that you were successful, but even so it is no compensation for the stress and worry you have had to endure.
They almost did wear my out.
I’m glad they didn’t manage it!
Rough luck, I’d say.
Or a blessing in disguise! 🙂
Congratulations on getting your first Worker’s Comp check. That can be a tough battle to win. And it will likely be an ongoing battle to keep the benefits coming. I do wish your husband a full recovery, so he can eventually return to work.
We won all hearings and appeals, they have to pay now every week. That’s a court order!
My husband is doing great so far. He goes to physical therapy three times a week and we hope he will recover fully.