One year later

I'm officially unemployed the first time in twenty eight years. I lost my job, my health and life insurance, the employer's portion of the Workman's compensation contributions, the employers portion of the matching pension contributions, and many other perks that were built into the contract such as free mobile communications, free transportation, free tuition. I lost my home to foreclosure due to my inability to make mortgage payments, I lost my car, my credit ratings, I almost lost my family but due to God's grace I was able to avert losing that one. to make it simple I have lost everything that I worked for over the last three decades. I didn't lose my life though, I'm still here hopeful and thankful that I'm able to pickup the pieces and move on. It isn't the end of the world though some apocalyptic theories are suggesting that it is drawing near.

I'm thankful that I can can take a full shower without having to worry about the hot water running out on me in the middle of showering during the frigid winter months. I'm thankful that I don't have to worry about the traffic police stopping me twice a day for no apparent reason other than to check on the validity of my driver's license and registration. I'm thankful that I don't have to have exact change every time I go to the supermarket to purchase milk and soda-since shop keepers don't bother keeping enough change to accommodate their customers. I'm thankful that I'm surfing the net at a speed equivalent to eight hundred Kb and not at a dial up slow like hell forty five Kb.

I'm thankful that my kids are attending public schools & advancing in their education without me having to dish out thousands of dollars for private education
I'm thankful that I don't have to use the prepaid phones to make local calls, I can live with a monthly charge on subscription basis. I'm thankful that the government civil service employees aren't screaming in my face every time I go to take care of a document that needs governmental processing. I'm thankful that I don't have to fear someone rear ending me every time I stop on a traffic light. I'm thankful that no one stirs at me while walking on the street, no one harasses me over the necessity of praying five times a day at the mosque. I'm thankful that my daughter and my wife aren't being undressed by the eyes of the pedestrians every time they go the market. I'm thankful that my eight years old son don't have to worry about punishment for something as silly as being five minutes tardy.

There is more to life than just accruing wealth, being socially comfortable with your life is in my opinion more important than having a big house and a four wheel drive. Being treated as a human being with dignity and respect is more important than just being around people of the same ethnic back ground.


I'm tired of listening to people telling me what to do and how to live the course of day today living, I'm thankful that I''m back at making my own decisions, pursuing my endeavor in the way that I set it for my self. I'm thankful because I feel that I have just gotten emancipated from the yoke of the people's interference in my private personal life.

The loss due to the finacial system collapse was one thing but the harassment by the people was much bigger loss than the actual one. I'm very thankful that my adopted country had accepted me the way I'm and not the way it wants me to be, for that I'm very thankful