Some stories just shock you enough to have to mention something about them, to think they're more indicative of something than the singular tragedy for one family. What I just read on Boston.com is one of those stories.
A 53 year old woman, a wife and mother, from Taunton, Massachusetts, faxed her mortgage company at 2:30 PM yesterday saying before the 5 PM auction of her home began she would be dead. When the company received the fax they called police within an hour. When the police got to the home, she was already dead, 1 1/2 hours before the auction would have started.
http://www.boston.com/...
(more)
I hope you understand that I am not one for sensationalizing the very personal tragedy of strangers. I don't for one second assume that the woman in question did not have other issues and disturbances (nor do I assume she did, I don't assume anything). Of the countless foreclosures and auctions that have happened during this recent housing crisis, most obviously do not lead to suicide.
But this one did.
In her note to her family, she asked them to use the life insurance money to pay for the house. Yes, I'm serious.
It seems additionally that this is indicative of the crunch and desperation individuals go through when it comes to this, what shall we call it? Not a "crisis." A tornado is a crisis--a horrible thing that wreaks much havoc, but not caused by anyone. This is the "foreclosure disgrace." The sub-prime shame. Call it what you will.
The additional humanizing part of this story is that the deceased 53 year old woman was responsible for the bill paying in the family and didn't tel her husband how bad the situation with the mortgage had become. I give this piece of info only to try to give an accurate portrayal of the story, but also because for some reason I can really understand that. Obviously, it seems unwise, and other adjectives perhaps too harsh less than 24 hours after a stranger's death. But it is definitely something I imagine I might also do, if in that position: quietly, desperately trying to make something right while keeping mum...until realizing there's nothing else that can be done, the writing is on the wall, and you still haven't told anybody. "But I thought I could fix it." In far less tragic events, I know I've done the same.
Just another example of a nation of whiners, Mr. Gramm, et al.
While this story is particularly shocking to the mind and conscience, I think it just speaks to the mess we're in.
Use the life insurance to pay for the house.
God help us.