Psst, you know the ones I'm talking about, not the ones that have paychecks, and direct deposit, but the ones that are wondering what tomorrow will bring, and not in a philosophical way, but actually.
The ones that were unfortunate enough to have worked in dying industries, and whom have exhausted their unemployment benefits. The ones that lost a home, or are in the long, drawn out process of losing it. The ones that are trying to make a dollar out of 35 cents, but are quickly realizing they've got a quarter if they're lucky. The ones that are looking at the care, and feeding of pets as burdens rather than joys. The ones that are thinning out their infant's formula, or potty training earlier to avoid the cost of pull-ups. The ones that have savings, and are charting the amount it dips each month, and when it will completely disappear if nothing is done. The ones that have jobs, but a cut in salary, an increase in workloads, and are the envy of no longer coworkers that were let go. The ones that can barely afford their mortgages, and will have to hold Mary Kay parties to pay the assessments. The ones that own small businesses, and wonder how much longer to keep the doors open, how may more dips they can take. The ones that aren't sure if they can keep up with the game face, the illusion that it's all going to be A- O.K.
A-OK traces its origin to journalism, or presidential elections, depending on which etymology one subscribes to, but it's a good term for this nation. Is America all correct? Is everything all systems go? Ask the other Americans. I don't seem to hear from them much. Misery has a way of not broadcasting itself, but it's felt, like an undercurrent, a chill.
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