Down But Not Out

‘I do not have a new years resolution. Well maybe never to be where I am again.’

I am a mother of three living in Reno, NV. The holidays this year are rough.

I am still without work and my husband is just starting his job on Monday and we do not know if it will even pay the bills. We have gone from making $72,000.00 a year to food stamps and $100.00 to my name.

To add to our struggles the home I live in is being auctioned off on Thursday and my oh so wonderful landlords are turning off the lights and water on Thursday as well. With help from family we will be able to move into an apartment. But it will not be ready in time. So we will be homeless for the first days of Hanukkah. I won’t even be able to light our menorah.

My children are handling it well. We have always instilled the point of being together as a family first rather then gifts. But this will be the first year they will probably receive none. It is breaking my heart because I thought at least we will be able to light the menorah but we will not even be doing that.

So as this holiday season comes in its weight is heavy. I do not have a new years resolution. Well maybe never to be where I am again.

Michelle G.; Reno, NV