Once upon a time in a land very near and dear (in all meanings of the word “dear”), there lived a young woman (all right, slightly older), who undertook a highly sensitive mission. “Undertook” is misleading. “Writer” was forced to find out how to survive in her beloved (dear) land, that was becoming costly, high-priced (dear).

Dear readers (all ten or so of you – actually, you probably will number over fifty – all friends): 

You are about to undertake a journey that, instead of a fairy tale, could be labeled a “nightmare tale.” However, by the end, you will see that it does have fairy tale elements.  Those elements will appear in Part II. Somewhere, writer learned that promising more to come later – is a writer’s trick to get readers to come back for more –she thinks.

Writer's journey futher opened up her eyes to the suffering being experienced by large sections of the "land of the free," as Americans struggle to survive in what could accurately  be termed a recession. She is learning that if not exactly financially intact, at least many Americans are surviving with that American spirit still flickering, or even burning brightly. 

This particular tale begins with writer nicely ensconced in a guesthouse rented from a family . Writer was fairly comfortable, even when stuff around the house was never repaired. Writer is low-key, non-diva, drama-free (most of the time), and  really easy to please. She did not complain.

Then the electricity began being turned off and turned right back on. After about a week of this, writer asked the landlady what was going on. Even when told that the son, (not an electrician), of the landlady, was fixing a problem with the electricity by turning off the electricity, writer did not complain. An agreement was reached with the landlady whereby writer would be notified when the electricity would be turned off, so that writer would hopefully no longer lose any more health programs that she had taped on the DVR. One “notification” was made while writer was attending church. Writer’s cell phone was on vibrate. She did not answer.

The second call was made while writer was in the guesthouse. Writer told one of the characters in this tale, hereafter known as “the girlfriend,” (of the son who is not an electrician, but is fixing the electricity problem), not to provide any more notifications, as the notifications came just as the electricity was about to be turned off, not about an hour or so before, so that writer could at least prepare.

The previously identified character “the son,” got on the telephone line and proceeded to let writer know that she was at fault for the electricity problems. Why was writer at fault?  The “son,” who could also be identified as “angry, young male,” proceeded to let writer know that it was her fault because she was turning on the lights. She had all those lights in the ceiling. She does not pay for the electricity. At that point writer realized that son is “logically and logistically challenged.” Writer needs light, especially when the sun goes down. Maybe writer should become a vampire? Writer did not build the guesthouse, therefore had no hand in the design. The landlady advertised the rental with utilities included. Those simple facts were apparently beyond son’s comprehension. Writer can relate. She loses all sense of logic when Math problems intrude on her blissful existence.

The electricity continued to be turned off, sometimes even up to six times per day. “Low-key” writer began to become somewhat high strung, at least her nerves became. Writer knew that it was time to move out and move on, when a car horn was blown on the street outside, when the electricity was turned, with a jolting action, early morning, late at night, and she almost hit the ceiling with an involuntary jumping of her entire body.  Writer began her plan of action.

Writer wrote a nice letter giving 30 days notice and gave it to the “girlfriend.” She told the “girlfriend” the reason for the notice – writer’s ex-boss was purchasing a house to rent to writer. The “girlfriend” took the letter and thanked writer.  Writer congratulated herself for making this a nice, easy, non-confrontational exit. The part about the house purchase was at least half true.

About a half an hour later, there was a loud knock on writer’s door. It was the girlfriend. Girlfriend wanted to know if there was anything wrong why writer was moving.  Writer assured the girlfriend that the reason was as given in the letter. The girlfriend stated that they wanted to make sure that nothing was wrong why writer was moving.  Writer refrained from making a remark about Einstein not being reincarnated in either the girlfriend or the son. Writer began packing.

Writer continued to pack, determined to leave in a graceful manner.  Son and girlfriend were determined this would not happen. About a week after the notice was given, girlfriend again knocked on the door, to advise writer that son and girlfriend were thinking of billing writer an extra hundred dollars per month – even though writer had already given notice. Luckily for writer, the landlady, who was now ill, had talked them out of that scheme. Girlfriend advised that she was now in charge. Whew! Thank you landlady, for saving writer one hundred bucks, especially as writer had already paid almost $8,000 in rent for about ten months.  Writer was asked to help to curtail the use of electricity for the remainder of the time that writer was still in the guesthouse.

Writer was now sitting in the dark, typing away on her laptop which had been fixed. Prior to the “resurrection” of the laptop, she had been using her desktop, which thank God had a surge protector. Writer is convinced that, had not the surge protector been used, she would have ended up with a disabled desktop. One day after one of the electricity interruptions, when writer turned back on the desktop, AOL had reverted to one of the programs that was in use, before AOL even came into existence! Writer, not being tech savvy, did what any non-tech would do. She re-booted. AOL re-booted to the current version.  Writer developed even more of an appreciation for sunlight.Writer was afraid to turn the lights on for fear that “son” would take out his anger on her.

On the subject of anger, writer had heard son frequently verbally abusing the girlfriend. One day there was a prolonged “discussion,” which was loud and violent. “Discussion” is probably misleading. Whatever discussion took place, usually meant that girlfriend got in about one sentence at the beginning, and was heard from no more. Writer sat at her computer desk, wondering who to call. Should she call 911 or call a friend. Should she get in her car and flee? The sound went on for about ten minutes, then suddenly silence. Writer prayed that no bodies were strewn on the floor. Later, she heard the usual voices. She was relieved.

Son is an equal opportunity “yeller.” He yells at the nine-month old son, and the poor dog.  Writer heard the mother/girlfriend telling the nine month old that he has to learn to listen to his dad, to do what his dad tells him to do. Writer was confused. At nine months old this child has the ability/capability to listen to his dad, and follow precise instructions? Some nine year olds have not yet mastered that skill.

Writer was more determined than ever to get the heck out of there – in the words of one friend. “Heck” was not the word used by the friend. Two Sundays before writer fled, she was on her way to church. She saw a magazine on the driveway of the house. She, out of the goodness of her heart, took up the magazine and rang the doorbell of the main house. Son came charging from around the side of the house yelling “why are you ringing the doorbell – don’t you see me here?”  Writer tried to explain to son that she had not seen him. He continued “why are you ringing the doorbell – my baby is sleeping and you are ringing the doorbell.” Writer tried to again explain that she had not seen him. Son was warming up.

Son stated “you are such a nuisance – I can’t wait for you to leave.” Writer grew a spine and decided that enough was enough. Writer boldly told son: “Don’t try to kill me before I leave.” That seemed to shut son up. Father came out of the house. Writer handed him the magazine. He stated that son did not “mean anything.” Writer, with her newfound courage, stated that she had heard son verbally abusing everyone in that house. Father walked writer to her car and told her: “Go to church, and pray, pray, pray.” Writer got the impression that all in that household are afraid of son. Writer went to church and prayed, more determined than ever to leave.

Writer continued packing and praying. About two days before writer’s “term” was up, girlfriend came knocking to let writer know that should writer remain past the time specified to move, writer would be charged $100 per day, because writer did not have a lease, and with month-to-month, writer could be charged any fees, any amounts that those in charge wanted to charge. Writer assured girlfriend that writer had no intention to remain beyond the last day. Girlfriend did not know this, but remaining would be like writer choosing to be locked up in the county jail. Writer had her trusty unpaid mover who had already made three trips to storage, to help writer meet her deadline.  

Writer met her deadline, with time to spare. A real bonus was that writer did not have to encounter son and girlfriend during the last minutes. The landlady was given the keys. She inspected the room which was spotless. It was named a guesthouse, but was really a converted garage, which was still attached to the house. To be honest, it was a nice space, except for those “minor” inconveniences.

Writer was able to wish the landlady, who is a sweetheart, in writer’s book, well – and mean it. Writer promised to pray for the landlady’s recovery from her illness. Writer also promised to pray for son, that he stops taking out his temper on the family, and comes to the realization that he has a good family. Writer will pray, but writer will not hold her breath that this particular “leopard” will be able to change his spots.

Writer almost forgot this tidbit. She left the guesthouse without having another residence.

Postmortem

Writer is finding out that as many Americans lose their homes, foreigners are purchasing these homes. Writer has no problem with anyone finding/living the American dream. Writer is herself foreign born. What concerns writer is that as many Americans who do know what it is to be an American,  are forced to the economic, social, and political sidelines, what makes America be America, will be lost.

Folks, whether foreign born, or native born, who choose to make this country an economic train station, where they disembark, clean up financially, and move onto the next target, do not care about “quaint” notions such as American exceptionalism, constitutional republic, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” unless these notions are a means to what really makes them happy – the filling of their financial coffers. 

Writer is about ready to don a black outfit for mourning, and make funeral arrangements for the land that used to be America. It does not seem that this non-fairy tale is going to end with “and they lived happily ever after.”  Who knows, though. Writer is not ready to give up.

To be continued…..