On the Verge of Homelessness

Never underestimate what you have. One day it could all be gone.

Photo by Spenser H on Unsplash

As I lay here tonight, at 71 years of age. A 26+ year veteran law enforcement officer, and firefighter, I have nothing but time to think about how I got to this point of my life.

Was it a career choice where I began at the bottom, only making $900 gross a month. Taking home just over $420 with our rent being $350 a month.

How does one survive with a family with 4 small children. Two of which are in elementary school while two are still at home, and one of those is just over a newborn, less than 2 years old.

It didn’t matter how hard I worked, I never could make ends meet. Something always came up to take any extra I was making. I never was home with the wife to help with the children. I barely saw them daily. And if I was fortunate enough to be home one day I was sleeping so mama had to make them keep quiet. This made for a really sad home as it turned out.

Photo by Garreth Paul on Unsplash

Not only did I work at the sheriff’s department, I also was a volunteer firefighter, I worked extra duties with the sheriff’s department every chance I had, if I wasn’t working one of my extra jobs at the local gas station or at the Clock Restaurant cooking. That usually was the midnight shift at the restaurant e-bike I worked days or evenings at the sheriff’s department. I filled in at the station three days a week. Two of which were my days off from the department. So, as you can see, I worked at least 16-20 hours a day, every day of the year. Still, we couldn’t make ends meet.

Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash

Being forced to retire in 1995 at the age of 44, I was screwed. I spent almost three weeks in intensive care before being moved to a room. After another week, I was able to go home with specific orders. You are through working. You are finished. I was even told that the doctor had notified the institution I was working at (I was currently working fir the Florida Department of Corrections) and advised them that I would not be returning to work, and if they wanted my uniforms they had to come get them. I was not allowed to set foot back on institution grounds for any reason.

You see, the doctor knew that if I went back up there, I’d be going back to work. He knew me that well. But, I can honestly tell you that all my work that I did the 26 years almost killed me.

Even now today, lying here in this motel room that my youngest son and his wife paid for me to sleep in for a couple nights, I can’t help but think back to the days of working, how much I still miss it after 28 years of being on my back in bed and hardly able to walk, I really miss working.

You see, I was living with my youngest daughter these past 5 years in her home. My wife past away last year in March, and it’s been really tough fir me ever since. My daughter was evicted last week and left returning back to Florida. I refused to go. I will not ever live in Florida again as long as I live. I stayed in the house until today. My youngest son and his wife showed up yesterday evening, went and picked up a truck this morning and loaded it all day. They brought me to a motel here and hopefully will be able to get me into an apartment by Tuesday.

Photo by Clay LeConey on Unsplash

I am this close to homelessness. This close. I’ve never been this down in my life. No money, and no place to live.

I just thought I would share a bit of my story. It isn’t much. But oh well. It’s what’s on my mind tonight.