At 71 I’m still plenty alert and alive; but, I’m all alone now (with only my dear cat, Sunny). My few living relatives want nothing with me; and I have only a couple good friends. I have no job nor any prospects thereof; and my remaining funds are rapidly disappearing.
In the past few years I’ve experienced two broken hearts and a loss of nearly all of my income. I get $312 a month from Social Security; and, thanks to JFS, I recently started receiving $194 in monthly food stamps assistance. That’s it.
My first broken heart occurred in my chest, requiring quadruple bypass surgery. The good news is I’ve been feeling well; and I believe my heart is fully repaired. My cardiologist agrees.
However, my divorce heartbreak is still raw and unsettled within me. I’ve lost my cherished ten-year marriage and all the financial stability that came with it.
My ex-wife now lives in Maine. We communicate through texting nearly every day. She may come back next year to live with me in the condo we’re still buying together. Her return depends mostly on my ability to create an income and whether she can get a job here with benefits. I’m taking it one day at a time.
So how did I discover JFS? My ex-wife had been very concerned that I may end up homeless, so she decided to call to see if there was anything they could do for me. I’m glad I overcame my resistant ego and followed through with her encouraging referral. I’d have never called JFS on my own.
So far they’ve helped guide me through the long, tedious food stamps process. I didn’t know I qualified. The two JFS people who helped me made it more comfortable and less stressful than I expected. Both spent a lot of time with me. I felt appreciated as a human being.
It feels good to buy food with a plastic card and to not receive a bill for it! I feel like I have a little more time before my money runs out. Every buck counts now!
My food stamps experience with JFS also helps “feed” my emotional well-being. Perhaps I’m too cynical, but I didn’t know there are organizations that help people in need with consistent respect and kindness. I’m starting to feel maybe I’m not alone in the world.
I want to acknowledge a third lovely JFS person who invited me to write this article. I write every day because I enjoy it, but it’s been awhile since I’ve had the opportunity to be published. It’s good to feel wanted and heard again.
Yes, maybe I’m not so all alone!
By Richard Silverman
Richard was born on the East Coast, went to public school and college in central Ohio, lived in Canada and Denmark and has lived most of the past thirty years in the Puget Sound area. He’s worked as a freelance writer, self-awareness counselor, English-language teacher, reflexologist and as co-owner of a modestly successful massage therapy business he named Delivering Wellness.
Feature image by Doug Hay.
