It's so embarrassing to have to ask for help, especially when there's money involved. And it's more than a bit overwhelming to actually receive it.
About two weeks ago now, my bill-juggling failed & my electric was cut off. I got it turned back on with the promise of a check that I knew would bounce, but I figured since they always re-submit at least once, that'd be another week of lights and heat...
(And then I had to wait for the truck to come back to flip a switch, though it turns out the truck also had to be here between 8 & 4:30, when the lives-free-on-site building manager deems it suitable to attend to such petty details. Also turns out he'd ignored their first phone call, which was something less than a half hour past the time the lights went out. But that's a whole 'nother set of issues.)
So I sucked it up & posted...
Turns out I've been posting here for ten years(!) -- UID: 33206, Joined: Nov 6, 2004 -- though I haven't been spending nearly as much time here as I once did. But ten years is a long time in internet-land, and while I haven't been posting here nearly as much as I once did, there's a community here I've always loved being a part of (even while occasionally being infuriated with some of y'all). So, though I felt especially awkward about popping in after such an extended absence to ask for help, well.
(Yes, I have blood family, and no, I can't ask.)
So, well. I asked, and various people in the community answered, and the results so far:
170 donations received, ranging from $2 to $250. 14 people asked for my mailing address, and so far I've received 9 checks and 2 letters including cash (about which: yes, you're not supposed to and yes, it's much appreciated).
More out-of-the-woodwork familiar old usernames than I can count. Such a comfort.
Several days' worth of verklempt. I had no idea my emotions all speak yiddish.
Paid off: Con Ed (electric), Verizon (internet & phone), car/renters insurance (it's one bill). Paid down: most of my $3000 credit line that's supposed to be an overdraft account. Also: cat food for about 2 months, a couple month's worth on the laundry card (it's better than having to accumulate quarters), a set of humongo googly-eyes for xmas for the nephews. And a fridge full of eggs, cause I can live on eggs (and they were $1.98 for 18). Meds for another month. And a fridge drawer full of lettuce, because while I can live on eggs, I get salad cravings after a while.
Total amount so far: about $5900, which leaves me only about $1000 on the wrong side of a zero-balance.
Thank you.
Please Help TiaRachel
If you've never used PayPal to send money to anyone, it is really simple.
Direct PayPal donation link is at Tinyurl.com/tiarachel
- Go to PayPal.com. You do not have to have an account to send money.
- Click Send Money to Family and Friends.
- Enter TiaRachel's email address (which is tiarachelgordon@gmail.com) and amount you are sending. The sender's name is visible to the recipient
- If you'd rather send a check in the mail, you can Kosmail TiaRachel to get her mailing address.
Please tip/rec these diaries and republish to your Daily Kos Groups. Link to your Facebook pages. Tweet to your friends. Many thanks on behalf of the entire fundraising team.
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