A New and Better Day

So, first of all, allow me to apologize for the rant yesterday.  It was, as I mentioned, one of those days.  Thankfully, they don't overwhelm me so I should be good for a while now.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.

So I wake from the awful day, previously known as yesterday, to a beautiful blue sky (which to this day makes me think of 9/11), even though the umbrella from my deck lie in the middle of the backyard with the table and at least one chair attached to it.  Seems I slept through a pretty decent storm.  Only one of the supports was broken, the same one that broke the last time the umbrella went sailing, so I'm hoping the lovely orange duct tape we used then will work it's little orange miracle again.

Moving on though, the first correspondence of the day was a text from my husband saying "We're broke.  Again.  No money til Friday."  Greeeeat.  So much for food.

Still wasn't willing to let a little bad news spoil the day.  Next call was from my mom.

"How long are you going to be home?"

"All day, why?"

"I've got a surprise for you, be there in ten minutes."

My mom is ALWAYS on time, so ten minutes later she and my stepfather came to the door with bags and boxes of food.  GOOD food.  Hamburger, steaks, ribs, fish, even a nice sized turkey breast.  Two loaves of bread, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, a bag of potatoes and onions, peanut butter, jelly, corn and green beans, boxes of jello, a jar of mayo, stuffing mix, scalloped potatoes, a jar of cranberries (ew), crackers, and some other stuff I can't quite remember at the moment.

I think I cried.

Yes, we've been struggling financially for the last four years.  I cannot manage to find a job no matter how hard I try, I'm either overqualified or underqualifed, or maybe just too old, but for the past four years we've been trying to make ends meet on just one salary.  Now, thankfully, we've never been big with material things.  I've got a 2000 Dodge Durango that I bought used and still adore.  When my husband asked me what kind of car I'd buy if we won the lottery, my answer was:  "You're kidding, I love my truck!"

We don't have credit card bills, no place at the river or the beach, we don't go out to eat, don't drink, haven't shopped in forever, and all in all we're fiscally responsible adults.  If it weren't for that, we'd be screwed.  We had a pretty decent savings account at one time.  We had retirement accounts once upon a time.  All that has gone into the till to keeping the house.

We're trying as hard as we can, not complaining (usually) and taking it a day at a time.  So when my Mom shows up with enough food to fix us dinner for well over a week, I was nearly salivating with excitement.  When she told me that a friend of a friend had heard about our troubles and would be delivering food for us every Monday for as long as we need it?  Well, I did cry then.

I've got pork chops thawing for dinner tonight.  Beats the mess out of mustard sandwiches.

Today is DEFINITELY a better day.