Gray Monday

Much as I tried to shake the blech of the day away, not even the Happy Monday photo has been enough.  It's gray and coldly wet outside and inside my head it's even a bit darker.  It's nothing that a little time and a good night's sleep won't cure, but right now I'm just darned sad and tired.

First, there was the sad news from the Blue Ridge....My heart won't stop breaking for my buddy, Marie.  Harley's life was way too short.  I can. not. imagine losing Mac the Dog and handling it with the grace that Marie has...

Then, if we really want to go dark, there's this excellent article in the NYTimes about the poverty-stricken---not poor, mind you-- but POVERTY-STRICKEN elderly in downeast Maine. If you have any interest in Maine as a state, please take the time to read this article and watch the interactive media presentation that accompanies it.

According to the article 1 in 5 elderly residents (65 and older) of Washington County live in poverty and many survive just little above the subsistence level of $10,200 per person.  The national rate is 1 in 10.

As is the case in much of Maine, one of the biggest problems "...is convincing people to take help."
A common theme (which is especial clear in the multimedia story) is the belief that no matter how bad their life is someone else has it worse:

With her Social Security payment of $683 a month, she refuses to feel impoverished.

“I was never a person to be extravagant,” Ms. Emerson said, adding, “I don’t play beano,” using the local term for bingo.

Besides, she said, she can still afford an indulgence here and there. “My greatest vice,” she added, “is Hershey bars.”

Many of Washington County's poor get less than average Social Security benefits and aid because they worked in seasonal jobs without paying into the system--raking blueberries, fishing, worming, balsam tipping and clamming.  Now their bodies are breaking down from years of hard labor and there's no government assistance. 

The cruelest irony of all?  In this winter of rising fuel costs, there is no good news:

But because of limited federal money, average fuel assistance for the 46,000 low-income Maine families expected to apply will probably decline to $579 this year, from $688 last year, said Jo-Ann Choate of the Maine State Housing Agency. “Low-income people aren’t even going to be able to fill up a single tank of fuel oil,” Ms. Choate said. “They already wrap themselves up in blankets during the winter. This year they’ll be colder.”

Limited Federal Money?   How can we leave these people behind? And when I say we, I mean WE.  The state voted against a Racino in Washington County and I can't help but think that the increased tourism would help. So now that the rest of the state has said no to a racino, where to next folks. What do we do to help out? 

On a better note, Turn Maine Blue has covered this story and is now trying to help.

 

Comments

[Marie]

Thanks Melissa,
Harley would loved to have been friends with you and Mac the Dog...

[jo]

I can't even bring myself to go read the story because I know I shall end up a blubbering wreck, but my heart goes out to anyone who loses a beloved pet.