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I live where the green star is placed.

Just thought I'd let you know.

Embarrassing news--but then, I report everything on this blog, don't I.

I spent most of Saturday morning on-line, signing up for Food Assistance and Health Assistance with DHS--Michigan Department of Human Services.  I am human.  I need services.

When I got home from the Chiropractor yesterday, there was a message on my phone--from DHS.  I called this morning and left a message for the Social Worker--telling her that I would be home all day so she could call back.

I'm scared of what she might say, but more than scared, I'm deeply embarrassed.  I am also proud and do not ever ask for help--no matter what.

My family history is one of helping others.  When I was a kid, we had hired men working on our farm for my Daddy.  They usually would arrive--walking up the drive with a "work for shelter and food?" request.  We had an old trailer parked out by the tool shed that they stayed in.  Sometimes these men would stay for a week, sometimes for a couple of months.  One guy that I really liked, Mike, stayed for two years.

We had a poor family the lived nearby and over the years, all six of the girls lived and worked for my grandmother.  My grandmother even gave the youngest girl her wedding and when Grandma died, there was a thousand dollar savings account left to the girl, whose parents had died by then.

My Mother donated many things to the church and school--always anonymously.  The tall pine trees all around our church, were donated by her when I was five.  When the church added on, she donated money.  No one knew until her funeral, when the minister told everyone about it.  Every Christmas, she'd ask her friend a first grade teacher, to pick a needy family and then Mother would sew red velvet dresses for the girls and red vests for the boys and make up a package of new underwear, sox, shoes, etc.  Then Mother would go to the school's Christmas program and smile as she saw the kids dressed in their finery.

I have, at times, helped others.  Given money, opened my home.  Had friends of my kids come and live with us for a time if they were having problems at home.

So, for me to ask for help is very embarrassing.  To ask for help from the Welfare people?  It just isn't right!!!

The case worker did call this afternoon with a few questions and then said, she was sending forms for me to fill out and sign, along with a list of proofs I need to mail back.  Things like how much rent I pay, gas, electric, insurance premiums, etc.
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I am really sick of talking about my financial woes on here and I am going to try really hard not to speak of them ever again.  Yes--I have them.  Yes--I probably will for the rest of my life.  Yes--it's not all my fault.  A lot of it is however,  I have made mistakes.  I also got screwed out of my inheritance, but.................

that is all in the past and I don't want to talk about it and have it continually on my mind.

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Dar called this morning with a bit of good news.  The owner of this park has hired a management company to take over.  When I moved in here, 11 years ago, there was a very strict set of rules.  As the years have past, the rules have become relaxed to the point of some lots looking like trash heaps.  Some lots still contain old mobile homes that are empty.  Those will be removed.  Only manufactured homes, with "real" peaked shingled roofs and vinyl siding will be allowed to move in.  Street lights will be fixed.  Lawn maintenance will be done by the home owners or the park will do it and charge the home owner.  No dogs over 25# allowed!!  No cats allowed to roam outside!!  So, those of us who have lived by the old rules, will be happy and those people who have not, will be mad.  I'm all for it!!!

Dar also asked if I would call the Meijer phone number on the bottom of my receipt and give them a compliment about her.  "They eat that stuff up!"

I told her, "I never call a company with a compliment UNLESS I have had extraordinary service.  Like a very helpful clerk or a great, exceptional waitress."

I think she was mad because he hung up the phone pretty soon after that.

<oh my>
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Pearl walked down.  The park maintenance guy was working on the icy ruts and finally got the street cleared.  You have seen pictures of my street--it is the only one in the park that hasn't been cleared--until today.  I called the office and his cell phone and left a Thank You message.

So Pearl came in and sat on the couch and not too long and Buddy was on one side of her and Maggie on the other.  They love Pearl.  When Dar walks in, they run and hide.

We had a great chat for about an hour.  The little storage unit they got on Sunday, just isn't working out in her small bedroom.  She is bound and determined to get a twin bed put in there.  This little room is about 8 x 9.  She has a desk in there, a sewing machine cabinet and lots of stuff.  She is in the process of cleaning out the closet to put in shelves so she can put her "stuff" in the closet.

She said, "I have four plastic storage boxes.  One with fabric scraps, one with trimmings, one with yarn and one with thread.  I don't make any crafts anymore, except my painting.  I don't need any of those things, but for some reason...I just can't give them away. "

"But, you need the space.  You have to keep your painting supplies, your blank canvases and all that.  If you get rid of the stuff you don't  use, you will have room to put them in the closet and make space for a bed."

"I know, but...what if I decide to make one of those Aunt Jemima dolls?  I will need the fabric scraps and trimmings."

"Store them in your storage unit.  They will be okay in the plastic boxes and close if you need them."

"I never thought of that!"

"So--why do you want to buy a twin bed for that room?"

"Because, I want to sleep in there.  I will wait until after Merle goes to sleep and then when he starts snoring and having those nightmares of his, I will get up and go into MY room and sleep."

"That would work."

"I told Merle, because he doesn't want to spend the money on a bed.  I wanted a sleeper couch, but he nixed that quick."

"So what did he say to this idea?"

"He got mad and said, 'well, I guess the marriage is over!' "

<oh my>
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With our last two days of 45 and 50 degrees, I can now see my back porch and the street out in front.

I wonder what it will look like by tomorrow afternoon!  
I really don't care--I have no where to go and lots of time to go there  :-)