Thursday, April 23, 2009

Surviving

Today the government explained today how they plan to finance their '09-10 budget and as everybody suspected it's taxes all around for everybody. One of the big ticket items was an increase of approximately $8 per litre in gas taxes. The last time they tried this there was an all island riot. There was a bit of hysteria on the floor at my office and they let us off at 3pm. Nothing happened, things seem pretty calm so far but it is still early. I guess things won't be so bad this time around as they will be taxing less of our income which should work out to $50k more in our pockets, it should break even for me.

Over the past few months I have noticed the price of things have generally trended up and I have had to adjust accordingly. This week baby mama pointed out that I was one of the two people she knew that could survive. lol recognition. It is in hard times I often remember a friend, lets call her Gia, I met 4 years ago when I started working downtown. She and I became good friends quickly and she had a little crush on me but I kept my distance out of sheer respect for this girl.

To bring y'all up to speed here is a few excerpts of her life story that flattened me. She was rejected by her parents and was forced to live with extended family that didn't care for her much at a tender age. They treated her badly, they locked her outside, who does this to a 7 year old? Luckily for her a couple who knew the family saw what was happening and saved her. They took care of her and she went to live with them, this was to be her new family. They didn't have much but they made sure she finished high school.

Fast forwarding to 2005 when I met her and she is twenty one. She had a job and was putting herself through school. At this time she was still living with the people that took her in, only thing the lady migrated so it was just her and the man. He was old, had lost his job so she was taking care of him and things at home by herself, she was so responsible. For those of you who remember 2005 Jamaica saw a few hurricanes or tropical storms and of course she was up on her roof with a hammer trying to secure it before the storms passed.

I was humbled, I have yet to meet anybody with her work or life ethic. She changed my view of people and she set the bar so high that most people just seem ungrateful when I hear them complain about their hardships that often pale in comparison to what Gia has gone through but yet still presses on. What to do when life gives you lemons?

6 comments:

Dee said...

how is baby?

Crankyputz said...

I think someone people are born hustlers...(which out the negative connotations.) They are built to survive.

Unknown said...

Touching story. When we survive circumstances like these, it makes us better persons. "$50k more in our pockets", weh yuh get that from?

Mad Bull said...

Gia does sound impressive!

marangand said...

Loved this...

BTW Dont be fooled, you wont be breaking even at all, Mr. Shaw just as Lloyd B. Smith say an excellent sales man. Lets see what you say in a few wks/ mths time...It ruff!

Tami said...

I say squeeze them. At least she has a good heart to stay around and take care of who took care of her when others, even her own family forsake her.
Some persons at that age, as soon as they get themselves on their feet, floops, them out the door; forgetting what or who got them to where they are. I always say don't grudge people for what they have because no one know how much shit they had to go through to get it, even if they don't seem deserving. I love seeing and being around people that are real and those who have a heart and it proves that when you on your last and if you give it away, you will get many blessings. I've seen that.