I mentioned that last weekend was lovely, which it was, and that we’ve been having a stretch of pretty weather, which we have, but now we must face other facts. Susan, Mother of the Lady Alicia, is a real estate agent with a lot of experience dealing with the current mess in the market. As we walked the dogs, she noticed at once something that I had completely overlooked.
A house in my neighborhood has been foreclosed, the family evicted, and the property secured by a company acting on behalf of the bank. I use the word “secured” loosely, as a fair amount of damage was done to the front door in the process of entering and changing the locks and so forth.
I know the people who lived in this house. I like them. I knew they were under great financial strain, but I didn’t know it had gotten to this point. Sometime over the last couple of months, most likely while I was in Utah, they moved out of the house. It makes me very sad, and if they read this, I want them to know that I am terribly sorry this has happened to them.
It is easy to believe that the people who are losing their homes are somehow different from you and me, that they made more foolish decisions, or were careless, or improvident or lazy. We tell ourselves those things so that we won’t be frightened that it might happen to us. But the Great Depression of 2008 is not over, and the people who are sliding off the economic cliff are not so different after all, and we’d best take good care of each other in these perilous times.
The Bay was quite beautiful this morning. Very peaceful. Cold, too—icy cold. The propane furnace keeps kicking on tonight, making the sound of ten dollar bills going up in smoke. The cat dozes next to my keyboard, the Cowboy leans against my feet, Miss Sadie is stretched out in the chair she favors. We lead a simple life. So far, so good.
We’re keeping on keeping on. We’ll hold a good thought for you, too.
Torch Lake Views 
flandrumhill
January 23, 2010
What a meaningful post Gerry. January must seem even colder this year to those who are struggling to heat or keep their homes. My heart goes out to these people. I hope they’ve been able to make a fresh start and that they can hold on, even if it’s just to one another.
Cindy Lou
January 23, 2010
Bless you, Gerry, for reminding me how close to home some of the discouragement is….my prayers are with them and others.
Anna Surface
January 24, 2010
How sad, how very sad.
I remember a time when we lived in apartment housing complex and a woman had been evicted from her apartment for failure to pay the rent. All her stuff was thrown to the curb, and this was in the city of St. Louis, MO. There her stuff sat outside by the street. Not only could her stuff be stolen… what little she had… she had no home. I felt for her so, and all the street people I ran across daily while living in the city. These images will be forever etched on my mind…
So many people have lost their homes to foreclosures in just about every town and city across the USA. I feel so for these people with their dreams shattered. May the family that was evicted in your neighborhood find peace and able to get back on their feet.
Gerry
January 24, 2010
I know this particular family will be OK, but it is sad to see the growing list of foreclosures and to know that some families won’t be OK at all.
Beth Toner
January 25, 2010
I think, sadly, in so much of the world we have lost the ability to look after the people around us — we have lost that sense of community. Community is what keeps us sane when everything else is going wrong. 😦 But Gerry — your blog helps build a community — and that is a good thing. I will think good thoughts for this family!
Gerry
January 25, 2010
A good community makes a place where everyone can grow, including an eccentric blogger who likes to give a little back here and there. Sometimes I spread around flowers from the garden. Sometimes I think maybe it’s more like zucchini. Delicious, but enough already!