Posts Tagged ‘Social Issues’

The Great Depression

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Coming home from work today, with more bad news lingering in the air, I wondered how the media can compare what is going on now to “The Great Depression.” If the unemployment rate never got higher than a certain percentage and we are coming nearer to that number — big deal! There are more of us now! Why are we looking at percentages instead of numbers?

The recession is coming to an end? Where – - – I don’t see the prices going down – - I don’t see more money in my paycheck — actually I see less people coming to work and more work being expected out of the few of us that are left. So are the people that we layed off on recess — Is that the recession? They are supposed to be finding new work so the recession is ending? Hmmm, I haven’t seen any new jobs created out there — have you? Actually I hear they are talking about extending unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks. Sounds like 13 more weeks of recess.

I still have a family to feed and no matter how tight I cut the corners at the end of the day I still owe more than I make. I still have more bills than income, I still can’t stop and buy that occasional ice cream cone, just because I feel like it — unless I don’t want to have milk this week. And that makes me depressed, and I know that I am not alone in that boat. Look around, there are a whole lot of percent of depressed people. So maybe this is the Great Depression – or the Greater Depression.

Don’t you think Great Depression is an oxymoron and should go right next to jumbo shrimp and pretty ugly?

Writing

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

I find that writing has turned from a hobby to an obsession.

Has anyone else experienced that as well?

When I wrote my first novel I was unsure of myself. I remember my oldest brother commenting that a first novel is normally biographical. I instantly told him that was not the case with me. I was simply telling a story about things I knew the most about. As my fourth novel is about to come out I find that my brother was right (again!) and that it turned out that my first novel is the most biographic of them so far. Not to say that it is my life, but it is most closely related to my life. The more recent novels, including the 5th and 6th that are being written simulatenously (no simple feat!) have absolutely nothing to do with my life or anything I’ve ever experiened. I also find that when I’m in a situation that is different (or difficult) I wonder how that would play out in a novel. Hence my obsession.

There are so many differenct scenarios we, as a species, go through on a daily basis that seem to be natural, that it is not often that we put ourselves in the other person’s place. I guess I just have come to empathize with the underdog and by writing from their vantage point I hope that maybe someday, somewhere, someone will pick up one of these books and say, “Hey! She has a pretty good point here. Maybe we should listen to what she has to say.” Or maybe I should just pull my head out of the clouds and stop wasting my time. (I sort of think that is not going to happen anytime soon!) But, it would be nice if somebody bought a book now and then!

Until then, I’ll just keep writing……..