All posts by James W. Breckenridge

Municipal, Poverty

The Shadow of Hunger

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A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, ‘Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.’

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, ‘You have seen Hell.’

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, ‘I don’t understand.’

It is simple,’ said the Lord. ‘It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.’

The shelves at the Abbotsford Food Bank are nearly bare. Yet the number of seniors, families and children who depend on the Food Bank grows.

July and August are traditionally the slowest months for donations to the food bank. This year, between the growing demand and the bare shelves, the Food Bank simply cannot afford this traditional downturn. Without generous help from the community, hunger will triumph this summer in our city.

Will you share your spoon with Abbotsford’s hungry?

Caveat emptor, Consider, Federal

The FACTS are …

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Leaving aside, for the moment, the errors in fact contained in Mr. Johnson’s letter of June 15th am I to infer from his letter that if everyone was jumping off a bridge he would jump as well?

Mr. Johnson has every right to be fine with the Conservative government using the previous Liberal government in setting its ethical standards.

Just as I have the right to demand substantially higher ethical standards of behaviour from our federal Canadian government, rather than tolerating the lowest common denominator as the standard.

The fact is that the federal government should not be worrying about being ‘embarrassed’ over the issues of affordable housing and child poverty but about addressing these issues.

The fact is that, prior to Mr. Harper’s appointment of Mr. Braley, senate appointments had indeed been made to party faithful – as a reward for years of hard work on behalf of the party. Mr.Braley’s ‘faithful service’ was large financial contributions, a very different kettle of fish. Leaving one to draw the conclusion that under Mr. Harper a senator seat is the reward for substantial enough monetary contributions to the Party.

The fact is there is no requirement that forces the federal parliament to appoint senators on a specific timeline. Mr. Harper could have kept his promise not to appoint senators.

Instead, despite Mr. Harper’s repeated attacks on the previous Liberal government for appointing senators, as soon as the opportunity to appoint enough senators so that the Conservatives would control the Senate and could force legislation through without being troubled by any sober second thoughts Mr. Harper appointed those senators.

The fact is there was nothing for Mr. Harper to over-rule on the matter of pensions. When the day came that Mr. Harper and members of the Conservative caucus had to either a) opt into the golden pension parliamentarians have approved for themselves or b) opt out and never be eligible for said sweet, overly generous pensions Mr. Harper and the Conservatives scurried right up to pig-out at the public trough.

All Mr. Harper and the Conservatives had to do to remain true their own words on the matter of pensions was – just say NO. But when push came to shove and it would cost Mr. Harper and the other members of the Conservative caucus big pension $$$, expediency (and their pocketbooks) won out.

Mr. Johnson’s most significant factual error lies in his dismissal of ethics in his statement “We have far bigger problems than noted above …”

Ethics are a fundamental building block, perhaps THE fundamental building block, in a government, a country or a society. Without an ethical underpinning considerably higher than the lowest common denominator we are going to continue to get the government, country and society that the majority of Canadians are very dissatisfied with. Despite it being the government, country and society that we have, through our actions and choices – individually and collectively – built.

If we want to change the government, country and society for the better we need to start with a solid ethical foundation and not a set of ethics that is based on ‘everybody does it’.

The problem for so many is that setting one’s ethical standards based on high-principles and honourable behaviour often causes inconvenience, sometimes great inconvenience by denying one convenient, self-serving behaviours.

If you promise not to appoint senators then, even/particularly when politically convenient you don’t appoint senators. If you are going to attack MP pensions then when it is time to opt in or out you opt out – even if it is costly.

I make no apologies for feeling we need to hold our government, our country, our society and most of all ourselves to higher ethical standards in order to change the same old government, country and society everyone complains and bitches about into the government, country and society Canadians want.

behaviour, Consider

Let them eat cake

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Picture if you will, a fence, a 7 foot tall chain link fence that divides a larger enclosed area in two. On one side of the fence two large pavilions/tents have been erected on the paving brick of the garden terrace. Three sides of the pavilions/tents have been left open to the healing peace of the garden while on the fourth side, the side that faces the fence that divides, white fabric walls have been raised.

Under the towering white spires of the pavilions are tables covered with white linen tablecloths and circled by chairs to seat the visitors for their midday repast.

To one side of the pavilions stands a BBQ on which is cooking the luncheon entrée. Rising from the BBQ grill is a cloud of scent infused smoke which wafts through the chain link fence. The scent permiates the airspace on the other side of the fence with the mouthwatering aroma of barbequing beef.

Standing on the concrete surface of that courtyard space, enveloped in the tantalizing scent of barbequing beef, are Abbotsford’s hungry homeless and poor; lined up waiting for the door in the side of the building which forms one side of the enclosure to open and admit them for what for many of Abbotsford’s hungry will be their only meal of the day – lunch.

New arrivals continue to trickle in as time ticks down to the appointed hour for lunch to begin. These new arrivals enter the courtyard with broad smiles on their faces as they sniff the air and happily profess their anticipation of enjoying barbequed beef for lunch.

Their faces fall as they are informed by those waiting in line that the BBQ is not for peasants such as themselves but for the august personages gathered under the pavilions.

The door opens and the hungry file quietly in to get their lunch, a bowl of soup and sandwich, escaping the tantalizing false promises made by the wafting scent of beef cooking on the BBQ.

I want to make it clear that I do not begrudge the members of the Abbotsford Christian Leadership a feast of barbequed burgers.

I am merely suggesting that leadership, in particular Christian leadership, should exemplify compassion, consideration and care for those less fortunate members of the community rather than such a thoughtless egocentric disregard.

If at this point you are telling yourself “they get a fine lunch every day” or some analogous disavowal – you’ve not discerned the gist, the essence.

I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. Desmond Tutu

George Washington’s

Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour

In Company and Conversation

1st Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.

2nd When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usualy Discovered.

3rd Shew Nothing to your Freind that may affright him.

4th In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.

5th If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkercheif or Hand before your face and turn aside.

6th Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.

7th Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your Chamber half Drest.

8th At Play and at Fire its Good manners to Give Place to the last Commer, and affect not to Speak Louder than Ordinary.

9th Spit not in the Fire, nor Stoop low before it neither Put your Hands into the Flames to warm them, nor Set your Feet upon the Fire especially if there be meat before it.

10th When you Sit down, Keep your Feet firm and Even, without putting one on the other or Crossing them.

11th Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.

12th Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs rowl not the Eys lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by appr[oaching too nea]r him [when] you Speak.

13th Kill no Vermin as Fleas, lice ticks &c in the Sight of Others, if you See any filth or thick Spittle put your foot Dexteriously upon it if it be upon the Cloths of your Companions, Put it off privately, and if it be upon your own Cloths return Thanks to him who puts it off.

14th Turn not your Back to others especially in Speaking, Jog not the Table or Desk on which Another reads or writes, lean not upon any one.

15th Keep your Nails clean and Short, also your Hands and Teeth Clean yet without Shewing any great Concern for them.

16th Do not Puff up the Cheeks, Loll not out the tongue rub the Hands, or beard, thrust out the lips, or bite them or keep the Lips too open or too Close.

17th Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any that delights not to be Play’d Withal.

18th Read no Letters, Books, or Papers in Company but when there is a Necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave: come not near the Books or Writings of Another so as to read them unless desired or give your opinion of them unask’d also look not nigh when another is writing a Letter.

19th let your Countenance be pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave.

20th The Gestures of the Body must be Suited to the discourse you are upon.

21st: Reproach none for the Infirmaties of Nature, nor Delight to Put them that have in mind thereof.

22nd Shew not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your enemy.

23rd When you see a Crime punished, you may be inwardly Pleased; but always shew Pity to the Suffering Offender.

24th Do not laugh too loud or] too much at any Publick [Spectacle].

25th Superfluous Complements and all Affectation of Ceremonie are to be avoided, yet where due they are not to be Neglected.

26th In Pulling off your Hat to Persons of Distinction, as Noblemen, Justices, Churchmen &c make a Reverence, bowing more or less according to the Custom of the Better Bred, and Quality of the Person. Amongst your equals expect not always that they Should begin with you first, but to Pull off the Hat when there is no need is Affectation, in the Manner of Saluting and resaluting in words keep to the most usual Custom.

27th Tis ill manners to bid one more eminent than yourself be covered as well as not to do it to whom it’s due Likewise he that makes too much haste to Put on his hat does not well, yet he ought to Put it on at the first, or at most the Second time of being ask’d; now what is herein Spoken, of Qualification in behaviour in Saluting, ought also to be observed in taking of Place, and Sitting down for ceremonies without Bounds is troublesome.

28th If any one come to Speak to you while you are are Sitting Stand up tho he be your Inferiour, and when you Present Seats let it be to every one according to his Degree.

29th When you meet with one of Greater Quality than yourself, Stop, and retire especially if it be at a Door or any Straight place to give way for him to Pass.

30th In walking the highest Place in most Countrys Seems to be on the right hand therefore Place yourself on the left of him whom you desire to Honour: but if three walk together the mid[dest] Place is the most Honourable the wall is usually given to the most worthy if two walk together.

31st If any one far Surpassess others, either in age, Estate, or Merit [yet] would give Place to a meaner than hims[elf in his own lodging or elsewhere] the one ought not to except it, S[o he on the other part should not use much earnestness nor offer] it above once or twice.

32nd: To one that is your equal, or not much inferior you are to give the cheif Place in your Lodging and he to who ’tis offered ought at the first to refuse it but at the Second to accept though not without acknowledging his own unworthiness.

33rd They that are in Dignity or in office have in all places Preceedency but whilst they are Young they ought to respect those that are their equals in Birth or other Qualitys, though they have no Publick charge.

34th It is good Manners to prefer them to whom we Speak befo[re] ourselves especially if they be above us with whom in no Sort we ought to begin.

35th Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.

36th Artificers & Persons of low Degree ought not to use many ceremonies to Lords, or Others of high Degree but Respect and high[ly] Honour them, and those of high Degree ought to treat them with affibility & Courtesie, without Arrogancy.

37th In Speaking to men of Quality do not lean nor Look them full in the Face, nor approach too near them at lest Keep a full Pace from them.

38th In visiting the Sick, do not Presently play the Physicion if you be not Knowing therein.

39th In writing or Speaking, give to every Person his due Title According to his Degree & the Custom of the Place.

40th Strive not with your Superiers in argument, but always Submit your Judgment to others with Modesty.

41st Undertake not to Teach your equal in the art himself Proffesses; it Savours of arrogancy.

42nd Let thy ceremonies in] Courtesie be proper to the Dignity of his place [with whom thou conversest for it is absurd to ac]t the same with a Clown and a Prince.

43rd Do not express Joy before one sick or in pain for that contrary Passion will aggravate his Misery.

44th When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him that did it.

45th Being to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be in publick or in Private; presently, or at Some other time in what terms to do it & in reproving Shew no Sign of Cholar but do it with all Sweetness and Mildness.

46th Take all Admonitions thankfully in what Time or Place Soever given but afterwards not being culpable take a Time [&] Place convenient to let him him know it that gave them.

47th Mock not nor Jest at anything of Importance break [n]o Jest that are Sharp Biting and if you Deliver anything witty and Pleasent abtain from Laughing thereat yourself.

48th Wherein wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself; for example is more prevalent than Precepts.

49th Use no Reproachfull Language against any one neither Curse nor Revile.

50th Be not hasty to beleive flying Reports to the Disparag[e]ment of any.

51st Wear not your Cloths, foul, unript or Dusty but See they be Brush’d once every day at least and take heed tha[t] you approach not to any Uncleaness.n

52nd In your Apparel be Modest and endeavour to accomodate Nature, rather than to procure Admiration keep to the Fashio[n] of your equals Such as are Civil and orderly with respect to Times and Places.

53rd Run not in the Streets, neither go t[oo s]lowly nor wit[h] Mouth open go not Shaking yr Arms [kick not the earth with yr feet, go] not upon the Toes, nor in a Dancing [fashion].

54th Play not the Peacock, looking every where about you, to See if you be well Deck’t, if your Shoes fit well if your Stokings sit neatly, and Cloths handsomely.

55th Eat not in the Streets, nor in the House, out of Season.

56th Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad Company.

57th In walking up and Down in a House, only with One in Compan[y] if he be Greater than yourself, at the first give him the Right hand and Stop not till he does and be not the first that turns, and when you do turn let it be with your face towards him, if he be a Man of Great Quality, walk not with him Cheek by Joul but Somewhat behind him; but yet in Such a Manner that he may easily Speak to you.

58th Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy, for ’tis a Sig[n o]f a Tractable and Commendable Nature: And in all Causes of Passion [ad]mit Reason to Govern.

59th Never express anything unbecoming, nor Act agst the Rules Mora[l] before your inferiours.

60th Be not immodest in urging your Freinds to Discover a Secret.

61st Utter not base and frivilous things amongst grave and Learn’d Men nor very Difficult Questians or Subjects, among the Ignorant or things hard to be believed, Stuff not your Discourse with Sentences amongst your Betters nor Equals.

62nd Speak not of doleful Things in a Time of Mirth or at the Table; Speak not of Melancholy Things as Death and Wounds, and if others Mention them Change if you can the Discourse tell not your Dreams, but to your intimate Friend.

63rd A Man o[ug]ht not to value himself of his Atchievements, or rare Qua[lities of wit; much less of his rich]es Virtue or Kindred.

64th Break not a Jest where none take pleasure in mirth Laugh not aloud, nor at all without Occasion, deride no mans Misfortune, tho’ there Seem to be Some cause.

65th Speak not injurious Words neither in Jest nor Earnest Scoff at none although they give Occasion.

66th Be not froward but friendly and Courteous; the first to Salute hear and answer & be not Pensive when it’s a time to Converse.

67th Detract not from others neither be excessive in Commanding.

68th Go not thither, where you know not, whether you Shall be Welcome or not. Give not Advice with[out] being Ask’d & when desired [d]o it briefly.

69th If two contend together take not the part of either unconstrain[ed]; and be not obstinate in your own Opinion, in Things indiferent be of the Major Side.

70th Reprehend not the imperfections of others for that belong[s] to Parents Masters and Superiours.

71st Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of Others and ask not how they came. What you may Speak in Secret to your Friend deliver not before others.

72nd Speak not in an unknown Tongue in Company but in your own Language and that as those of Quality do and not as the Vulgar; Sublime matters treat Seriously.

73rd Think before you Speak pronounce not imperfectly nor bring ou[t] your Words too hastily but orderly & distinctly.

74th When Another Speaks be attentive your Self and disturb not the Audience if any hesitate in his Words help him not nor Prompt him without desired, Interrupt him not, nor Answer him till his Speec[h] be ended.

75th In the midst of Discourse ask [not of what one treateth] but if you Perceive any Stop because of [your coming you may well intreat him gently] to Proceed: If a Person of Quality comes in while your Conversing it’s handsome to Repeat what was said before.

76th While you are talking, Point not with your Finger at him of Whom you Discourse nor Approach too near him to whom you talk especially to his face.

77th Treat with men at fit Times about Business & Whisper not in the Company of Others.

78th Make no Comparisons and if any of the Company be Commended for any brave act of Vertue, commend not another for the Same.

79th Be not apt to relate News if you know not the truth thereof. In Discoursing of things you Have heard Name not your Author always A [Se]cret Discover not.

80th Be not Tedious in Discourse or in reading unless you find the Company pleased therewith.

81st Be not Curious to Know the Affairs of Others neither approach those that Speak in Private.

82nd Undertake not what you cannot Perform but be Carefull to keep your Promise.

83rd When you deliver a matter do it without Passion & with Discretion, howev[er] mean the Person be you do it too.

84th When your Superiours talk to any Body hearken not neither Speak nor Laugh.

85th In Company of these of Higher Quality than yourself Speak not ti[l] you are ask’d a Question then Stand upright put of your Hat & Answer in few words.

86 In Disputes, be not So Desireous to Overcome as not to give Liberty to each one to deliver his Opinion and Submit to the Judgment of the Major Part especially if they are Judges of the Dispute.

87th Let thy carriage be such] as becomes a Man Grave Settled and attentive [to that which is spoken. Contra]dict not at every turn what others Say.

88th Be not tedious in Discourse, make not many Digressigns, nor rep[eat] often the Same manner of Discourse.

89th Speak not Evil of the absent for it is unjust.

90th Being Set at meat Scratch not neither Spit Cough or blow your Nose except there’s a Necessity for it.

91st Make no Shew of taking great Delight in your Victuals, Feed no[t] with Greediness; cut your Bread with a Knife, lean not on the Table neither find fault with what you Eat.

92nd Take no Salt or cut Bread with your Knife Greasy.

93rd Entertaining any one at table it is decent to present him wt. meat, Undertake not to help others undesired by the Master.

94th If you Soak bread in the Sauce let it be no more than what you [pu]t in your Mouth at a time and blow not your broth at Table [bu]t Stay till Cools of it Self.

95th Put not your meat to your Mouth with your Knife in your ha[nd ne]ither Spit forth the Stones of any fruit Pye upon a Dish nor Cas[t an]ything under the table.

96th It’s unbecoming to Stoop much to ones Meat Keep your Fingers clea[n &] when foul wipe them on a Corner of your Table Napkin.

97th Put not another bit into your Mouth til the former be Swallowed [l]et not your Morsels be too big for the Gowls.

98th Drink not nor talk with your mouth full neither Gaze about you while you are a Drinking.

99th Drink not too leisurely nor yet too hastily. Before and after Drinking wipe your Lips breath not then or Ever with too Great a Noise, for its uncivil.

100th Cleanse not your teeth with the Table Cloth Napkin Fork or Knife but if Others do it let it be done wt. a Pick Tooth.

101st Rince not your Mouth in the Presence of Others.

102nd It is out of use to call upon the Company often to Eat nor need you Drink to others every Time you Drink.

103rd In Company of your Betters be no[t longer in eating] than they are lay not your Arm but o[nly your hand upon the table].

104th It belongs to the Chiefest in Company to unfold his Napkin and fall to Meat first, But he ought then to Begin in time & to Dispatch [w]ith Dexterity that the Slowest may have time allowed him.

105th Be not Angry at Table whatever happens & if you have reason to be so, Shew it not but on a Chearfull Countenance especially if there be Strangers for Good Humour makes one Dish of Meat a Feas[t].

106th Set not yourself at the upper of the Table but if it Be your Due or that the Master of the house will have it So, Contend not, least you Should Trouble the Company.

107th If others talk at Table be attentive but talk not with Meat in your Mouth.

108th When you Speak of God or his Atributes, let it be Seriously & [wt.] Reverence. Honour & Obey your Natural Parents altho they be Poor.

109th Let your Recreations be Manfull not Sinfull.

110th Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Ce[les]tial fire Called Conscience.

Finis

Municipal, Provincial

School Boards

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Responsibility? Accountability?

Watching the Tuesday June 8th news reports concerning the situation the Vancouver School Board finds itself in, the behavior and statements of board chairwoman Patti Bacchus brought several thoughts to mind.

I found Ms Bacchus’s statement that her and the board’s top three priorities were funding, funding, funding appalling and rather disheartening. One can only hope Ms Bacchus’s claim that funding, funding, funding were the top three priorities or concerns of all other school boards in BC was only further hyperbolism.

The number one priority of any school board or school board member should be the students, their welfare and education.

And no Ms Bacchus they are not the same thing. The welfare and education of the students is a far different, far more important matter than funding.

Watching Ms Bacchus’s cavalier dismissal of the report of the Comptroller General, finger pointing at the provincial government and tantrum like insistence on having her own way I was struck by the lack of either responsibility or accountability on the part of the school boards in BC.

I would like to suggest that the province act to remedy this lack of accountability and the ability of school boards to accept responsibility for their decisions and actions.

It is important to preserve the current system of provincial funding for students in order to provide a level as possible system for all students in the public school system.

However there should be put in place the ability of school boards to levy additional funds from the community.

In this way school boards that found themselves unable to live within their budgeted means would have the ability to raise additional funds from their community.

The boards would then be able to cover shortfalls but would be responsible and accountable to their local communities for their fiscal and budgetary decisions at the next school board elections.

There could be, or is that would be, a temptation on the part of the provincial government to try to download education costs. Responsibility and accountability for those behaviors would, in the same manner of the school boards, be assessed, judgments made and sanctions applied by the voters.

Whether it is through the ability of local school boards to raise extra funds or not, it is becoming clear that in the world of limited funds available to the different levels of government (municipal, provincial, or federal) to meet their commitments with, we need to ensure that those responsible for spending large amounts of those funds are, at least to some degree, held responsible and accountable for the manner in which they spend voters dollars.

Explains a Lot.

Watching the histrionics of school boards, parents seeking to save schools or programs from closing and the Minister of Education clearly explains why our schools are failing to provide students with a cogent education.

Education is supposed to develop the ability of students to think, teach students how to learn, to impart knowledge and to prepare students so that the transition from school to the real world does not overwhelm them.

Given the demonstrated lack of basic business mathematical skills; the displayed absence of even a rudimentary understanding of the fundamentals of finance and budgeting; the indication of an unwillingness to accept responsibility or act in a dutiful manner; the fundamental shortfall of leadership and this populace’s direct affect on education – there should be no mystery as to why many citizens feel students are not being provided an adequately cogent education.

To demonstrate responsible behaviour and leadership homelessinabbotsford.com will be providing a series of experimental, real world lessons to teach those cited in the opening paragraph, politicians, those who signed the HST petition and decidedly the media about basic business mathematics, budgeting, financial and fiscal realities.

Lesson One.

Get a piece of lined paper and copy down these instructions at the top of the page; place a line or lines to separate the instructions from the rest of the page.

Get a toonie – the Canadian $2 coin or its equivalent in coin (coins totaling 200 cents).

Go to a store, taking the written instructions with you (with a writing instrument) and select $3 worth of merchandise – for simplicity the cost of the merchandise can fall anywhere in the range of $2.75 – $3.25.

Take the merchandise selected to the checkout and proffer the toonie (or its equivalent in coin) as payment for the merchandise selected.

In the separated second section of the page that contains the instructions, carefully note the outcome of this offer of exchange and any interactions and comments offered by the clerk.

Upon returning home get a second, blank lined page. Looking at the original page examine the instructions and what occurred at the checkout and consider why what took place at the checkout occurred.

On the second sheet of paper write down any hypothesis you arrive at as to why what occurred took place. Make note of any mathematical or financial truths or realities that were demonstrated by this exercise. See if you can ascertain any general business, mathematical or financial rules that would apply in the broader world of fiscal reality.

Our second lesson will contain a review of the outcomes, what knowledge was available to be gleamed from this experiment and provide the next experimental lesson.

Issues, Poverty

Just when did I board the SS Minnow?

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My life is starting to feel as if I am sailing aboard the SS Minnow where, no matter how creatively I patch the holes, the water keeps finding new ways of leaking in, threatening to drag me down into homelessness once more.

The difference in the number of pay periods (26/2 = 13) versus disability cheque issues (12 X 2 = 24) resulted in an extra paycheque being included in a cheque period (3 cheques instead of the usual 2). The result was that $280 was clawed back off the disability cheque leaving me short $250 to pay June’s rent.

‘Delaying payment’ of the monthly bills provided $100 towards June’s rent. Of course the price of using the $100 to pay June’s rent is the need to struggle for at least the next three months to squeeze $100 out of my budget to bring the accounts of the monthly bills back to current from delinquent. On a budget were even a 2kg jar of peanut butter is a major expenditure finding the $100 feels more like one is paying in blood or having it carved out of one’s hide.

With no discretionary spending in the budget each ‘savings’ is a decision made at the expense of something else.

If Fate or The Universe had not intervened to return a damage deposit, three years late and in the precise month (May 2010) it was needed, the car I am writing this sitting in would have been providing me shelter during my return to homelessness.

I am sitting in the car writing this waiting for a free supper to be served because I cannot afford the gas to drive home and then return for supper. I am a member of a Fraser Mental Health committee that exists to advise Fraser Mental Health, from the point of view of someone using the services provided by Fraser Mental Health, about its the services and delivery methods it uses. I was forced to miss June’s meeting because there was no money to pay for gas to drive to and from Surrey.

My car provides the only form of transportation that allows me to get to the places I need to be at the times I need to be there. Being unable to get to work and get home from work at 1:30 in the morning would mean I could not afford my current lodgings, could not afford the rent on any safe and healthy housing. Volunteer activities, Fraser Mental Health committees (Surrey, Coquitlam), Housing and Homeless working groups, mental health groups to facilitate (Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack) are among the commitments only a car allows me to keep. A car is not a convenience but a necessity.

I am so tapped out that the other day when I found a British made ink pen with four different nibs and ink cartridges in a Thrift Store for the bargain price of $0.65, a pen I needed to replace one that had ceased to write, I had to borrow $0.30 to have enough to pay for it. Repaying the $0.30 was accomplished through cashing 6 pop cans in at the bottle depot.

So of course, when your life begins to feel more and more like you are a passenger on the SS Minnow or are transferring to the Titanic, when one is financially past the point of being tapped out and the car you need and depend on needs to be aircared … that is when said automobile starts running rough and spewing out fumes that have people in the vicinity of the exhaust pipe choking and gasping for fresh air.

With my current financial situation, pretty much penniless, the need for a tune-up (or whatever the Cavalier requires to pass Aircare) requires the benefaction of a mechanic and parts required at a cost of … zero, zip, nada, $0.00 OR the philanthropy of a vehicle with a price at the same level of zero, zip, nada, $0.00.

Finding the future, Housed or Homeless, once again out of my hands and consigned to Fate …

… well, not only is life feeling as if I am a passenger on the SS Minnow but this latest twist has me feeling as if I have been tossed an anchor instead of a life jacket.

Continue reading Just when did I board the SS Minnow? →