Saturday, September 20, 2014

Neighbors

Our neighbors Gina and Tom came over for hamburgers on the grill this afternoon.  They are recent arrivals in our 'hood; a nice young couple.  We enjoy their company.

The past few months have been rough for them, like they can be for nearly everyone in these difficult times.  The economic recovery hasn't yet kicked in, and there are few job openings, so people have to take what they can, even if it isn't the ideal situation.

Tommy used to work on the docks.  The union's been on strike and he's down on his luck.  It's tough, so tough.

They are fortunate that Gina is working, although her degree in sociology hasn't equipped her for what anyone could call a real career.  Don't you wonder what a person who works for a degree in sociology expects will happen after graduation?  It's liken there's no real plan or idea of what happens next.

Gina works the diner all day. Working for her man she brings home her pay for love. For love.

I'll say this about Gina: her attitude is marvelous. She says, "We've got to hold on to what we've got.  It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not. We've got each other and that's a lot for love. We'll give it a shot."  

It made me think about those times years ago when Mrs. Haz and I were starting out.  She used to encourage me when things were tough.  "We're half way there", she'd say,  "livin' on a prayer.  Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear, livin' on a prayer."

They needed cash, so Tommy got his six string in hock.  Now he's holding in what he used to make it talk so tough, it's tough.

The grils were in the kitchen talking while Tommy and I lit the grill.  Later Mrs Haz told me that Gina dreams of running away.  When she cries in the night, Tommy whispers, "Baby, it's okay.  Someday." And she tells Tommy we've got to hold on to what we've got.  It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not, we've got each other and that's a lot for love.  We'll give it a shot.

You have to admire that.  Life can be tough, am I right?  We have all experienced that in one way or another. We've all had to say we're half way there, livin' on a prayer.  Take my hand, we'll make it, I swear.  Livin' on a prayer. We've got to hold on ready or not.  You live for the fight when it's all that you've got.  We're half way there; livin' on a prayer.  Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear; livin' on a prayer.

They'll be okay, Tommy and Gina.  I sense that that they will.  And it's good that they live next to Jack and Diane, the other younger couple in the neighborhood.  They have so much in common, and their upbeat attitudes are a good thing.

16 comments:

The Dude said...

Do Charles and his girlfriend, Caril Ann live just down the road, too? I know there are some rocky customers out in the midwest, just sayin'.

Unknown said...

That makes me Jovi-all.

The Dude said...

A cougar, eh? RRRRR!

ricpic said...

But what if they don't make it? They'll be nobodies. No hopers. I had an acquaintance once, can't really call him a friend, anyway, he said the goal is to learn to live without hope. Needless to say he was a poet...and broke.

ndspinelli said...

LOL! We were in Vegas a few years ago. Our daughter was a senior in high school and was considering majoring in sociology the nest year. We were walking through some shitty casino downtown to get their specialty, a fried Twinkie. A hoochy mama was dancing on a platform to entertain the craps and blackjack players. My bride pointed to the dancer and said to our daughter, "She has a degree in sociology." A CLUTCH hit by the spouse!!

The Dude said...

Leslyn for the win!

rcommal said...

Ha!

rcommal said...

Hm.

rcommal said...

Also, though it's off-topic, may I just offer an aside to Lem? Which is: I'm really enjoying the quotation at present displayed on the masthead of your site.

rhhardin said...

I remember when International Harvester went on strike, and IH said if they don't knock it off they'll close the business, and they didn't knock it off and so IH closed the business.

The union head said that the union had won in principle.

Unions not only cause unemployment among the general population but also their own members, sort of like the Democratic party.

rhhardin said...

A girlfriend got a MSW (masters in social work) and had a nice state job in some welfare department.

She spotted a fraud when a guy came in claiming disability, and she asked for a doctor's note; he came back with a note, penciled on notebook paper including letterhead, saying "Jimmy White is totally disabled to work."

"You'll have to do better than that," she told him.

rcommal said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Wall Street, with its downside subsidized by taxpayers, is getting richer and donating money to the Democrats. The great middle class feels our dream dying, and most people aren’t sure why.

Dad Bones said...

They live next to Jack and Diane?

Unknown said...

Little ditty' bout Hillary and Goldman Sachs. Harvey Weinstein throws big parties, while the middle class packs.

ndspinelli said...

Sixty, Leslyn loves it when I read some of your more witty comments to her.