Ask Me If I Care

[still.trucking]

On with the show
Life on the screeen

[Doreen Peri]

i know... right? what a trip

[still.trucking]

Poetry is the trippiest trip of all for me.

[hester_prynne]

Sometimes even when you work, or when you are trying hard to work, poverty still creeps up on you. I always worked, always had a job. Then, not too long ago, I was laid off, work dried up. I even worked full time jobs but still did not have enough money to live on. I lived on people's couches, trying to find something, had to ask friends to help me as I searched for what seemed like an eternity to get some money coming in again. I had to leave my daughter with her dad. (That was the hardest thing). In that context, I saw the wisdom in LROD's words, "poverty taught me freedom". It taught me a beautiful freedom.

Now I have a job that saps my soul and that I hate, but i'm making enough MONEY.

I think we all know that you have to work to live in this society. In a context yes "work will make you free" is true too.
But I understand and appreciate also the context of "poverty will make you free", because i've been there and felt that very thing, and it struck a deep and still very raw chord in me, that had nothing to do with working or not working issues.

"Poverty will make you free". I think it's a very true statement, chock full of irony, courage, and beauty too.
It's all good.
H

[Doreen Peri]

Yeah, Theda... I can see that... I wasn't contradicting LRod's line "Poverty taught me freedom".... I was only stating my own.... "Poverty taught me to work."

I, too, have had my bouts with poverty and it can teach you a lot! It can teach you both freedom and the fact that you have to do *something* to alleviate the poverty.

I wouldn't wish on anybody a job that makes you become the Night of the Living Dead. I hate that. I've been there and I'm there right now, actually.... Making enough money to survive is not enough.... You have to make not only a living... but a LIFE!

The stark reality of the situation is that unfortunately, we need money to live these days. It takes money to pay the rent or mortgage and buy food and sometimes we have to take jobs that aren't exactly perfect for us but get us by. It's sad really.

But at the same time, just to know you've worked to alleviate the hunger and the lack of housing.... makes the food taste better and the house feel more comfortable. .... to me, anyway.

So, just sayin'... wasn't trying to start an argument or anything. Was just sayin' that you get sick of eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and sleeping on other people's couches.... so sick of it that poverty can teach you to work, even if the work isn't as rewarding as you'd like it to be.... at least there's a bed and food and roof over your head.

Not optimal, by any means. Optimal would be to follow your dreams and do what you want....... something rewarding... satisfying.... WORK that is part of you.... so that you can make a life AND a living doing work you love to do.

I wish that for you.

And for me.

And for Lrod.

And for the rabbit, too, of course.

[hester_prynne]

"But at the same time, just to know you've worked to alleviate the hunger and the lack of housing.... makes the food taste better and the house feel more comfortable. .... to me, anyway".

I sure wish it made me feel that way.......

I feel poorer in so many ways now. I find no sustaining comfort or happiness in having enough money the way i'm getting it.
I hate selling out happiness and comfort for security. I think it's a really shitty deal.
H

[Doreen Peri]

I know what you mean in regards to the fact that I'm selling out, too. But I just can't seem to find anybody who's going to pay me to paint paintings, write poetry, play piano, and go to the gym and swim all day. It sucks.

So, I guess I feel like at least I earned the roof over my head and the food on my table which makes the food taste better and the bed feel more comfortable ....... even though I've sold out to trade my skills for someone else's dream.... since I'm not out on the street or on someone's couch eating their food, somehow it makes sense to me to make me feel like I've worked for the value of it.

That was a LONG run-on sentence. I'm sorry.

Still searching for the ability to make a "living" living my dreams. I don't know if I'll ever get there.

I *do* know, though, that I want the freedom and I'm willing to trade my skills for it.... to not have to deal with poverty any more. I did it TOO many times. I'm not fond of starving or freezing. I won't do it again unless some unforeseen circumstance screws me to the wall and I have no choice.

I'd rather flip burgers at McDonalds. No shit.

[still.trucking]

I just realized something clay

My situation does not relate to yours at all

but I liked the poem

It was Tang




I think poverty happens to the best of people it is not a character flaw.

As down and out as I ever been was living at the Union Gospel Mission in Music City down on lower Broadway near the Ryman.

I learned that Jesus loves me
That was good news.
Everybody and his brother was getting saved back in the seventies.
Me too. Actually joined a church. Well a Quaker meeting, they mostly don't call them churches, we used to say meeting house.
Even though I do believe Jesus loves me I I would rather pay rent.

I lived on jitterbug's couch on and off for years.
And I have had couple of friends live on my couch. one musician friend who lived on my couch for 18 months and another institutional friend (a guy from the Quaker meeting who was from west africa) who lived with me for a year.
I had a basement apartment on music row, across the street or down the block from the RCA and all the other big publishing houses.

Strange apartment, not one window in it. Total pitch black darkness. My friend from west Africa's skin was blacker than the darkness he stood out from it.

I think he had the most beautiful skin of anyone I have ever met.

Clay I am going to run this through a spell checker
once again I lean on your letting me slide on the ramble

just say High Jack
been into the bitter herbs again.

Now I feel guilty because I did not buy a book from you.

I will work a little harder next month -
take me about three hours of answering the fone to make twenty bucks and taxes. I got a raise minimum wage is going to 7.25 an hour.

[hester_prynne]

Indeed Still, poverty is not a character flaw, but many see it that way, many who are poor are treated as if it is. It's part of our society's engine to see it that way, got to have alot of folks down so a few can be up.

I'm coming to the conclusion that the freedom poverty teaches is perceived in many different ways. Nothin wrong with that!
H

[Doreen Peri]

Yeah... very true... who said poverty was a character flaw? Not me! If my character got judged by my poverty I'd be pissed! As I said, I've experienced poverty too many times. I actually live on the brink of it day to day and have done so for my entire adult lifetime. This is not something I'm proud of. I work hard. It's just the facts. I'm one paycheck... well maybe two... from the street. It SUCKS!!!!!!

I do think, however, that many of the homeless and poverty stricken could do themselves a favor and get a fricking job. It might not be the "perfect" job but ANY job (as my Dad used to tell me...) ... Take ANY job to pay your own way.... ANY job is better than none!

It doesn't make it a character flaw that some are in poverty, however. It only makes it *stupid* if there are jobs available and they don't choose to do any of them.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

People who have the physical and mental capabilities to support themselves financially shouldn't depend on others to do it for them.

What's wrong with my opinion? Nothing. It's perfectly sane.

Nothing wrong with that!

[Lightning Rod]

such an interesting discussion from such a little poem

(I think you have the sure grasp on this subject, hest)

[still.trucking]

I knew that was going to be a bitch job Theda. I posted something about that when you first said you got it. But you seemed so happy I did not want to bring you down so I deleted my post.
It is a burn out job if you truly care about people. And I know you do.
I hope you can make yourself a stash in case or if you have to let it go. Unless you develop a case of smaritrophia.

Samaritrophia---the hysterical indifference to the troubles of those less fortunate than oneself.

.

[still.trucking]

Hard Is the Way of the World III

Don't wash your ears on hearing something you dislike
Nor die of hunger like famous hermits on the Pike!
Living without a fame among the motley crowd, [...]

From:
300 Tang Poems

I liked that poem a lot too Clay.

I am going to be a friend to both of you if it kills me.

[Doreen Peri]

I liked that poem a lot too Clay.

I am going to be a friend to both of you if it kills me.

To both of who?

Is this another quip like rabbit made about me?

Just saying.... I'm talking philosophy here and about the content of a poem. It doesn't have anything to do with any "spat" between me and Lightning Rod. We're not having a "spat."

AND.. a lot of times you all thought we were having a spat, we weren't having a spat. We were talking philosophy.

I like to talk philosophy. I have opinions.

So please, I wish you guys would stop inferring that there's something personal about my opinions.

There's nothing personal about them on this thread. They are philosophical principals I'm expressing. Things I believe in. Not directed toward anyone in particular personally.

OK?

Thanks.

[still.trucking]

I got opinions too
So many opinions
I could use a couple more holes in my head just to express them all.

You got values too Doreen.

I don't see eye to eye with Clay about money and work.

Or with you.

But I can hear what you are saying about flipping burgers.

I don't have to flip burgers because I am retired and have a big fat social security check coming in every month. So I guess I need to sit on my hands and back on out of this conversation because I can not relate.

I like SooZen's tag line

"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to loose."

I am not free yet cause I still got plenty left to loose.