I,m not cheap i,m broke

OK. My turn. I am not rich. However, I consider myself "comfortable" although this is a new feeling for me. At 47, I have spent the majority of my life "uncomfortable". At the age of 30, when many people are set on their life's path, I was sitting in a welfare office begging for enough gas money to make the 2,000 mile trip back to my home town. I was mentally beaten, majorly in debt, and pretty much at my wits end. I never accepted charity before, and it was a humbling and embarrassing position to be in. All I had in my possession was some crappy furniture, my "new to me" 10 year-old Laser, and car parts. When I did drive home with my tail between my legs, I couldn't afford to insure my "new" car, so ended up picking up a $200 Dart so I could get around. I gladly accepted a minimum wage job, and donated my time doing graphic design to a local community center. Fortunately, right time, right place, the printing company that just lost their designer was looking for one when I dropped off some work for printing. I took a week off work, and spent that unpaid week working for free in the hope that I would be considered for the position. In the next couple of years I met my current business partner, and between us, we pooled $50, opened a business account and registered our business. The next eight years involved 12-16 hour days, times when income was less than expenses, paycheques barely large enough to survive on, and occassions when we doubted our ability to make a go of it. Fortunately, we survived these times, and it feels as though a huge weight has been removed from my shoulders. I still have my projects, and the dream of being able to get back to working on and enjoying them has played a major part in helping me maintain a positive outlook during the hard times.

This site has helped me immensely, and even though I've had my moments on here, and have been blocked by some for spouting off how I feel, and ignored by others for things I post, it still offers a sense of comfort to log on and read what's going on in other member's worlds.

If I have the ability to help someone, I will try. Do I help everyone? No. I certainly don't monitor those that don't, and don't frown upon those that don't. I realize that we all have our personal struggles, and we each deal with these in our own ways. With a group this large there are bound to be many tragic situations as well as happy ones, and sharing the joy and pain in these situations is what makes this forum unique in my eyes.

Grant