It's beautiful in Seattle this week. Yes, the nice weather here IS newsworthy.
I met one of my many friends over 65 years old for coffee. It was a beautiful morning and
we sat outside to enjoy the sunrise.
"Mary" was already set to go clean houses. She is popular with many wealthy folks around here. She is religious and trust-worthy.
"My customers are afraid of the young folks they have hired to clean their house." theft
is a problem with some cleaning companies.
"I will drop dead on some customers floor",she said. My friend looked tired and in pain.
"why not get another job?" I asked. She laughed and asked who would hire me?"
she is a close enough friend,that I felt I could ask,"why not live on Social Security?"
Her check is too small. She has to work,she is 66 years old.I did not pry and ask
how much her check is.She has spent her savings and has given money to her broke
children.
"USA today" says a third of workers in America have less than $1,000 in savings. Around 11% have over $250,000 to retire on.Over half of American workers have
maybe two or three years of savings. 401 k saving plans don't have a good enough
return on investment,unless your young and have many working years ahead of you.
Cost of living,energy costs,and medical expenses have changed the way most of
folks my age will live out the last chapter of our life.Work is in our future,look around
you,do you SEE older folks working? I bet you do.
What's happening to older Americans,should serve as a warning to ALL age groups.
All adults need to be saving as much of their paycheck as possible. Social Security
was NEVER met to be the ENTIRE way older folks live,now it will become less and less
of a security blanket.
We are living longer, soon folks over 90 will became a very large part of the makeup
of our country.
Republicans want to lower Social Security payments, someone has to fight to raise
payments and not make seniors have to pay ANY medical bill once they turn 70 years old.
"Mary" is at work now,scrubbing and waxing floors. She has a 10 hour day ahead of her.
I hope she has time to look outside and enjoy the beauty around her. I pray that
she can stay strong,and healthy. I pray she has plenty of food and that she can laugh
and smile once in awhile.
Maybe someday in the future, ALL older people will matter to the soul of this country.
Maybe someday people will treasure older Americans and go to them for wisdom.
In 2014,we will have to pray that we will die soon.
-The first and final thing
you have to do in this world
is to last in it and not be
smashed by it.
-Ernest Hemingway