Those brothers were good musicians. Too bad they weren't getting paid to play. Good thing the little boys' mother taught her sons the value of an education in spite of what their uncles had to say about it. As for Bruce and Elaine, they're smarter than some might think. Elaine knew a "prison" when she saw one, LOL. She realized she was giving up her freedom and independence to get out of that shack and into a brand new house. I enjoyed their bantering back and forth. They seemed to be a good match for each other.
When an industry is in decline why do people sit there rotting at the end of it all? Hoping in vain it'll get better when they know it won't. It happens in every continent. They could diversify, retrain,relocate...
How is it different today? In the valley there is a chain saw dealer, and an appliance repair shop. Both at the end of their rope as the repair business ends. I don't believe they know it. They just try to raise their prices and stay afloat.
Spoken like someone who has never known true poverty. How would you propose someone with no means of transport, no money, no work experience, and no formal education move on from the only life they know? It's not as easy as "pulling themselves up by the boot straps" or through welfare, it's a much deeper, systemic issue.
What exactly do you propose they do? You gotta have money to relocate, and even if you can obtain free training, you probably need to learn to read and write well enough first. Those used to be thriving communities and historically children only got a very basic education before they began working themselves. These families are doing what they can, they are living off of their land and pouring the little bit that they have into their children to give them the best chance at a better life. And they may have it rough but they keep it pushing and they continue to have hope. Without hope, what's the point? I know that this is old. I hope that the children did well for themselves.
I also have to point out that you have no idea how easy it is to end up in poverty and how incredibly hard it is to fight your way back out of it. I grew up never having enough, my mom was murdered when I was 10, my dad an abusive heroin addict. His mom adopted me as an infant and was a wonderful mother who provided me with everything I needed, sadly she died when I was 8, so I went to live with my dad and stepmother, and spent the next 10 years cycling in and out of foster care until I aged out at 18 years old.I got a 500 dollar scholarship to assist with ny education from the state and a pat on the back as they sent me on my way. I worked my ass off to get an education and begin a career. I waited until I was set in life before having my only child when I was 29 years old. I had a great career, great health, a nice starter home, I had just financed my first newer vehicle, and had a healthy savings account and 401k. I was a very involved, hands on parent who was determined to give my son the life I never had. Then I got sick. No one could figure out what was wrong with me. It took 6 years to finally be diagnosed with a very rare medical condition caused by a tumor in my pituitary gland. I needed immediate brain surgery and months of treatment and I lost EVERYTHING. I had to stop working, and when my short term disability ran out I lost my medical insurance and the ability to keep up with our living expenses. I applied for help from the government and was told that I was ineligible as long as I still had assets that could be liquidated. So once my savings ran out I had to cash out my 401k which wasn't nearly enough once I paid the tax penalties. I lost my home to foreclosure, my car was repossessed, and my credit was DESTROYED. I was forced into poverty to get the help I needed, and anytime I try to get a little bit ahead I am told that I'm no longer eligible for one assistance program or another. My now teenage son got his first job and his income counted against me. I only work part time and it's against medical advice because we have to eat. We slept in my car for months two years ago. This is not the life I signed up for. I worked so hard for a better life only to lose it practically overnight. My car has tons of problems that I can't afford to fix but I keep it because we may need to live in it again. I am barely surviving. I have lost hope, and with it my desire to live, but I have to make it long enough to know that my son will be okay wothout me, because I am the only person he has. Once he is established in life I will make my exit. Provided that I've been able to save enough money to pay for my cremation. Disposal of my body should not be his burden, and if I don't always have enough money to eat I certainly don't have the money to spend on life insurance. I am NOT the only person who lives a life like this. I'm angry because I was always told that with hard work and an education that I could have a good life. That people's lives are what they make it, and people who don't have enough money are lazy or don't want it bad enough to work for it. That's a fucking lie. You not only need a reality check, but a little compassion and effort to understand would be helpful too. Because all it takes is one devastating event for you to end up here too.
And even today those generational.poor keep struggl8ng and hoping. Thats what real faith humbleness and survival look like. It is the same on every continent @madreep
![American Hollow (1999) [Full Movie]](/img/n.gif)
I am from PEI and I couldn't count how many people I have known that lived similar lives. I would break bread with them any day of the week.
Elaine is still seen daily at sobeys. We used to pick up Bruce hitchhiking in the 70's
I use to hang out with Danny and Darrell at their house growing up. They are a wonderful family. Love
them all.
Thank you for sharing.
Thats a long old walk over the ridge
Those brothers were good musicians. Too bad they weren't getting paid to play. Good thing the little boys' mother taught her sons the value of an education in spite of what their uncles had to say about it. As for Bruce and Elaine, they're smarter than some might think. Elaine knew a "prison" when she saw one, LOL. She realized she was giving up her freedom and independence to get out of that shack and into a brand new house. I enjoyed their bantering back and forth. They seemed to be a good match for each other.
When an industry is in decline why do people sit there rotting at the end of it all? Hoping in vain it'll get better when they know it won't. It happens in every continent. They could diversify, retrain,relocate...
How is it different today? In the valley there is a chain saw dealer, and an appliance repair shop. Both at the end of their rope as the repair business ends. I don't believe they know it. They just try to raise their prices and stay afloat.
Spoken like someone who has never known true poverty. How would you propose someone with no means of transport, no money, no work experience, and no formal education move on from the only life they know? It's not as easy as "pulling themselves up by the boot straps" or through welfare, it's a much deeper, systemic issue.
What exactly do you propose they do? You gotta have money to relocate, and even if you can obtain free training, you probably need to learn to read and write well enough first. Those used to be thriving communities and historically children only got a very basic education before they began working themselves. These families are doing what they can, they are living off of their land and pouring the little bit that they have into their children to give them the best chance at a better life. And they may have it rough but they keep it pushing and they continue to have hope. Without hope, what's the point? I know that this is old. I hope that the children did well for themselves.
I also have to point out that you have no idea how easy it is to end up in poverty and how incredibly hard it is to fight your way back out of it. I grew up never having enough, my mom was murdered when I was 10, my dad an abusive heroin addict. His mom adopted me as an infant and was a wonderful mother who provided me with everything I needed, sadly she died when I was 8, so I went to live with my dad and stepmother, and spent the next 10 years cycling in and out of foster care until I aged out at 18 years old.I got a 500 dollar scholarship to assist with ny education from the state and a pat on the back as they sent me on my way. I worked my ass off to get an education and begin a career. I waited until I was set in life before having my only child when I was 29 years old. I had a great career, great health, a nice starter home, I had just financed my first newer vehicle, and had a healthy savings account and 401k. I was a very involved, hands on parent who was determined to give my son the life I never had. Then I got sick. No one could figure out what was wrong with me. It took 6 years to finally be diagnosed with a very rare medical condition caused by a tumor in my pituitary gland. I needed immediate brain surgery and months of treatment and I lost EVERYTHING. I had to stop working, and when my short term disability ran out I lost my medical insurance and the ability to keep up with our living expenses. I applied for help from the government and was told that I was ineligible as long as I still had assets that could be liquidated. So once my savings ran out I had to cash out my 401k which wasn't nearly enough once I paid the tax penalties. I lost my home to foreclosure, my car was repossessed, and my credit was DESTROYED. I was forced into poverty to get the help I needed, and anytime I try to get a little bit ahead I am told that I'm no longer eligible for one assistance program or another. My now teenage son got his first job and his income counted against me. I only work part time and it's against medical advice because we have to eat. We slept in my car for months two years ago. This is not the life I signed up for. I worked so hard for a better life only to lose it practically overnight. My car has tons of problems that I can't afford to fix but I keep it because we may need to live in it again. I am barely surviving. I have lost hope, and with it my desire to live, but I have to make it long enough to know that my son will be okay wothout me, because I am the only person he has. Once he is established in life I will make my exit. Provided that I've been able to save enough money to pay for my cremation. Disposal of my body should not be his burden, and if I don't always have enough money to eat I certainly don't have the money to spend on life insurance. I am NOT the only person who lives a life like this. I'm angry because I was always told that with hard work and an education that I could have a good life. That people's lives are what they make it, and people who don't have enough money are lazy or don't want it bad enough to work for it. That's a fucking lie. You not only need a reality check, but a little compassion and effort to understand would be helpful too. Because all it takes is one devastating event for you to end up here too.
And even today those generational.poor keep struggl8ng and hoping. Thats what real faith humbleness and survival look like. It is the same on every continent @madreep