So Sad

I got an email last night from Mr. Sign's friend Steve, who was best man in our wedding. His wife and I became very close for several years talking every day for hours. We were both raising our little ones and stayed at home.

I was heartbroken when they moved about an hour away. We still talked but it became much less when I started working.

Steve had taken a job that had helped them move but the move was lateral with the same pay. This might have been ok except the cost of living is much higher where they moved.

They immediately fell into debt and were having a hard time even buying food. I was able to scrape together some cash and bought them some groceries to get them through to the next paycheck. Things weren't the best for my family either as Mr. Sign had just been layed off.

Things seemed to get better until about a year ago Steve's wife was diagnosed with MS and could no longer work as much as she had been. They had some other rough things happen that I was unaware of since we didn't speak very often any more.

Anyhow, the email stated that they were going to send out Christmas cards but didn't have money to do it. Steve had lost his job in February (the one he moved for 5 years ago) and was working 2 part time jobs. His unemployment compensation was done in September. His wife can only work one night a week because of the MS.

The real kicker came when he said that they will lose their house the first week of January. My heart sank. I want to help them but know that they are beyond any (small) help we could give them. Especially after we recently spent $400 fixing the garage door, $300 to our doctor (later rant on that), $350 on Mr. Sign's car, $500 for the hospital for my surgery, and $650 to the weightloss center for Mr. Sign's surgery (December 28th).

I can't imagine what they will do. They have two girls and two dogs. Their family lives on the opposite side of the state. I'm heartbroken for them. I don't think I can even scrounge up $50 for them to buy presents for the girls.