I had a heart-breaking moment this weekend at of all places, the grocery store.
I walked down the aisle and studied the faces and watched the people pushing carts make decisions about what kind of food they would be able to afford this week. Some people instinctively grabbed an item, threw it in their cart, others studied each item, checked and double-checked the price, scanned through a coupon book and put a few things back.
I'm beginning to see the squeeze this recession is having on everyday, working class Americans.
The most heart-breaking moment came when I walked up to the cash register after unloading my cart of groceries and there, bent-over the register was a little old lady with a name badge that said "Ina." She also had a 15-year service pin.
She looked-up and noticed I was looking at her pin and she smiled. I couldn't help but think she was easily in her mid to late 70's. So doing a little math, she started working at or soon after turning 65.
My god. Is this how we treat our senior citizens? America is o.k. with this?
After my husband and I carted our groceries out and started unloading them into the vehicle I asked him if he noticed the check-out lady. He admitted she seemed "older."
I asked him, "I wonder what her story is? Was she married, widowed? Does she have a pension or did she give-up her security later in life to stay home and raise kids? Did her husband have a pension? Why did she start working at a time in her life that she should be retired? Does she need the medical coverage? Can't afford her prescription drugs?"
My husband said, "That could be one of us someday."
I said, "We live in a country that is o.k. with that?"
He said, "Unfortunately, I believe it is."
I cried all the way home for Ina. And I'm still thinking about her today, 2 days later...wondering, worrying.