John Kerry

So I know what terror and hopelessness you're feeling. You and I both know that what is needed is something concrete to keep a roof over your head and food to eat until you can get a job. I've been fighting the battle of trying desperately to find employment myself, so I know it's not something that's going to happen overnight though you desperately need it to in order to stave off the worst from happening. I'm 50 years old. Never in my life had I had such a problem getting any kind of employment until now when I need it the most. Unlike you I have a lifetime of experience in many areas, but still no one is interested. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to pass out a resume with nothing or little to offer.

Like you, I've been trying to distract myself with a book or the internet, etc. at those times of the day not looking for work or begging for help from people that have no concrete help to give anyway. But what we both really need is a plan to get out of the horrible situation we're in and anyone that can offer a place to stay or money to keep you having a roof over your head and food to eat, as well as those necessary things to find a job like a phone for prospective employers to contact you and internet for searching out jobs, sending out resumes, contact with prospective employers, etc.

A Kerry speech may make you feel better in the short term just as my reading a book or watching cute panda bear cubs on YouTube does for me, to keep from losing my marbles or just giving up on life. But like me what you really need is actual help.

I really wish I had some actual help to give you, but being in much the same situation myself now as you are I simply can't and pray that someone does. All I can offer is my sympathy and hope for us both.

Tomorrow I'm going to once again beg sympathy with my slumlord though it is likely entirely useless since she hasn't got a single sympathetic bone in her body (but that's another story) and see if I can get any government help to keep me off the streets while I try to find a job. All I can do is recommend that you do the same - see if you can get any government help or help from any friends or family while doing everything humanly possible to get some income and do what you can to not lose your marbles in the mean time.

I'm so sorry to hear of the death of your stepmother. I just can't imagine having to be in this situation and suffering such a loss at the same time not to mention having to be the one to deal with the funeral arrangements and all that to boot.

I don't know what you've done already to help yourself get out of this situation, so I'll just say see if you can beg some time from the landlord, throw yourself on the mercy of any friends or family that you have to keep a roof over your head and food on the table, see if there is any government help that you can get, and spend every waking moment trying to get a job.

Though every day at some point I struggle with the idea of giving up, I know I can't, and neither can you. As hard as we both know it is try as hard as you can to hang onto hope that somehow things won't get even worse and may get better though I know just how hard that is.