Mike and Jenny grew up in a small town. They met at the local country club. A club that both Mike and Jenny’s families had been long time members of. Mike and Jenny spent summers together from youth through college. Mike’s dad was a local sports salesperson. It made sense for his dad: Mike’s dad was a good athlete and knew most of the local coaches. The local sporting goods store hired him as their salesperson, and he sold everything from mouth guards to jerseys to local sports teams. He made $12,500 when he started and Mike’s Dad advanced to a regional manager, making $45,000 per year in less than ten years. In that time, the salary was considered middle class and of course Mike’s dad had enough disposable income to provide for his family. The country club membership was one of those things. Mike’s dad and mom raised three children. Sadly, all but Mike’s sister eventually moved away. Mike’s family easily afforded and enjoyed the local country club in the summer. They attended public schools, played sports, went to church, were known in the community, enjoyed snow skiing in the winter. Like most in the city, they were embraced well beyond the measure of Mike’s dad’s salary and occupation. Mike never realized until later in life that his dad was not wealthy. In America, lower costs and modest salaries still yielded high disposable income.

Jenny’s dad divorced her mom early. Sadly, he had moved away. Jenny’s mom was a bookkeeper in a local hardware store. Jenny’s mom had moved back in with her parents and the kids actually felt lucky as they had three parents (including their grandparents). Jenny’s mom wasn’t wealthy, but the local country club board agreed to provide her with membership for her family of three (including Jenny) if she agreed to clean the club house once a week. In those days, people valued connections with their community. Jenny’s mom made up for a lack of money by being resourceful. Jenny’s mom did not make much, but through help from her church and her volunteer activities, she was able to stitch together a life for her three children. They were always taken care of. In fact, they all three graduated college using scholarships and the affordability of quality universities. No student loans and $3,000 a semester for all inclusive colleges was a great deal.

It was a time when money didn’t matter. People lived in the community their parents and grandparents grew up in. Jobs like Mike’s dad’s were not of a high wage, but the cost of living was comfortable. Jenny’s mom took a different path. Part time work, barter, and hustle allowed her to gracefully raise three good kids.

Years later, Mike and Jenny got married. They returned to town for a visit after being away for many years thinking this might be a great place to buy a house and start a family. As they drove into town, they saw all the familiar businesses boarded up. Visiting Mike’s childhood home, Mike asked his mom where dad was. She looked at him with sadness. “Your father’s Sporting Goods Company got bought out by a big corporation. Dad is working in a store about sixty miles from here as an Assistant Manager. He is back to making $18,000 a year, and his much younger manager doesn’t seem to be able to find a way to relocate your dad back to a store near here. He told your dad to do the job he has or quit. After all these years, your dad’s just punching a timecard and trying to come home a few days a week. The pension plan is gone.” Mike and Jenny were shocked to hear about Mike’s dad being treated like this in the last years of his career.

Jenny was equally shocked when she found her industrious mother sitting in a recliner and in terrible health. “Mom, why haven’t you taken care of yourself? We didn’t know you were having this tough of a time. You still have your bookkeeping job, right?” Jenny’s mom said, “No Jenny, the company was sold to an international group who automated bookkeeping. It is done in Bombay, India. It doesn’t really matter. I was offered COBRA health care. When that ran out, the bad knee I had gave out. I can’t really walk without a crutch. And I can’t afford the pain pills prescribed to me. So here I sit. No job. No health care.”
Mike and Jenny got back in their car, numb at the fortunes of their family. Jenny in tears about her mom.