Monday, November 19, 2012

Gratitude

Gratitude Carries You through the Worst Storms of Life
It was Thanksgiving, 1983 when we learned the true meaning of the word gratitude. Only two years earlier we were living our dream, having just bought our first home, a newly constructed, modest three bedroom ranch with a large yard for our expanding family. My hard- working young husband had just been promoted to assistant manager of our local grocery store. We had just bought our first new family car. Life was simple, but good.
But our new home was constructed at the beginning of the Banking, and Savings and Loan crisis of the early 80’s. Due to congressional deregulation, Savings and Loans were allowed to make high risk loans to developers. Unknowingly, we had purchased our home from one such developer who sold them to buyers on contract. Within one year, we were to roll over the mortgage to a lender.
But the recession intervened in our plans. Our contract was signed at a low interest rate, but within the year, Banks, and Savings and Loans were failing at a rate even higher than the Great Depression. Unemployment shot up to a national high of 10.8% with some areas as high as 15-20%. Inflation had reached a startling 13.5%. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker tried to slow the rate of inflation by raising interest rates. The Federal Funds rate, which was about 11% in 1979, rose to 20% by June of 1981. By June of 1982, the prime interest rate had reached 21.5%.
We did not qualify at these rates, nor could we afford the payments. We were about to lose our home and our good credit, but we refused to give up our dreams. With 3 little ones, we had few options. Determined and full of idealism, we sold everything we owned, bought this land and a 1962 32 ft. Nomad Travel Trailer, a beauty by today’s vintage standards, with blonde cabinetry and pink full sized appliances, to live in while building. Our paycheck to paycheck built home was only partly finished when our idealism quickly turned to despair when my husband received a lay-off notice, and unable to afford our nearly paid off car, it was repossessed after missing just two payments. We were left with our equally vintage International Scout, but grateful for it just the same.
As Thanksgiving, 1983 approached, we were experiencing very stormy weather. We had just started the roofing when my husband was laid off, and giant tarps covered the rafters. But as the storms increased in fury, the tarps blew off in the wind. We bravely climbed onto the roof in gale force winds to try and secure them, but it was to no avail. Torrential rain flooded the hand milled floors forcing us to drill holes to release the standing water. We huddled inside our cozy trailer as the wind rocked it back and forth.
The Thanksgiving Day storm of 1983 was one for the record books. The wind gusts were recorded at 62 mph at Sea-Tac airport, but here in the foothills, the wind was even stronger. Thousands were without electricity with Thanksgiving Day turkeys half cooked in the oven, but because we were living self- sufficiently in our little trailer with propane fuel, we were able to enjoy the meal we splurged on with the last of our savings. As we ate our humble meal in our humble little trailer, we were grateful for so many things, despite our hardships. We had a roof over our heads, we had this wonderful meal, and we had each other and our health. After the storm cleared, we realized how truly lucky we were. During the night, a 100 ft. tree fell, missing our little trailer by mere feet. We had so much to be grateful for. We still have the holes in our floors to remind us.
Published in The News Tribune
 

12 comments:

  1. What a horrible store Beatrice, but fortunately with a happy ending. You have a lot to be grateful for indeed!

    Wish you a lovely Thanksgiving week.

    Madelief x

    ReplyDelete
  2. What an incredible story, Karen. You never cease to amaze me. Your resilience and self-reliance continue to inspire me.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your beautiful family! <3

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful post, Karen! I remember well those high interest rates in the mid-eighties and the house we had with the ridiculously high payment. I kept a journal back then and found it the other day. Reading it, I was reminded again of how much we do have to be thankful for...

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an amazing story, Karen. It would be easy to look at your blog, at your gorgeous home in the foothills, at your lovely children and family, and be jealous of the woman who is lucky enough to live such a perfect life. But your piece shows the reality of what your home really means - the sacrifice, the courage, the faith to keep going.

    I agree that gratitude is hugely important in facing adversity. And I'm really glad that tree missed you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is the exact reason why I am so grateful you are not on a Blogger Break any longer! I love reading your words, Karen. Thank you! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your resilience and courage are a constant inspiration to me.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Karen - to you and your loved ones. <3

    ReplyDelete
  7. Karen, you are so absolutely right about the power of gratitude.

    I hope you and yours are enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving all together. xox

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sometimes the hardest times are those where we grow the most and appreciate the blessings more...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you so much, my wonderful readers for your heartfelt comments. I am very sorry that I have taken so long to publish these, as my internet was knocked out last Monday and it has taken until today, Saturday, to get it all back up again. The hazards of mountain living!

    I published this article to give people hope in this time of difficulty for so many who have lost their homes, their jobs, their livelihood due to the current economy, and also for victims of disaster.

    My hope is that in some small way I can inspire others not to give up hope, and to understand that despite what life throws at us, there is always, always something to be grateful for.

    Thank you for inspiring me in so many ways to keep on writing my truth.

    Blessings to each and every one of you. xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my, what story Beatrice.
    Have a sweet Sunday full of grace!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh my gosh that is amazing with he tree missing you. There is so much to be thankful for. I loved this story.
    We were also it with those 20% interest rates in the 1980's our mortgage payment doubled and I honestly do not know how we made it but we did and am truly grateful too.
    I think some hardships make you really appreciate what is truly important in this life and to be grateful for every little thing.There are always lessons to be learned. Great story stirred a lot of memories for me. B

    ReplyDelete
  12. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Karen!!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...