Flubberwinkle: 07/2010

OK, Internet, I've tried avoiding posting this letter because during the past months I have been battling early stages of depression. Sadly I'm not alone because I think most people living in Greece are on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

My brother and my sister-in-law, expecting their second child any day now, are out of work.
My husband will most likely be fired by March 2011 while in the meantime his pay has been seriously slashed in 2010.
I am still employed and not worried about being fired because my "employers" stand firm on the belief that "everyone has a right to work". Their problem is their shortage of cash flow and therefore HAVEN'T PAID ME for over two months. So yes, I am still employed -in fact continue to work even harder at my work- , just not getting paid for it.

Consequently, we buy less things at the supermarket because a) money is short and b) prices have been hiked on basic foods and necessities. I look around at the supermarket and see everybody else also buying frugally.

By the way, [side note to supermarket owners] the same bloody no-name-cereal is 2,43€ at Sklavenitis and 3,48€ at MyMarket? God-damn! It's cereal, not caviar, get a grip guys.

I've noticed that most people are leaving their cars at home because of the gas prices. (OK, I know, this is a plus for the environment, so it's not a bad thing in itself).

Most of my friends and family will not be going on vacation this year. We live in the blasted "land the ancient gods chose" and we can't afford a short frigging holiday here.

And obviously, we have cut out our modest social frivolities like going to the movies and cafes.

I have no idea if our family's savings are enough to withstand the crisis. I don't know how long the crisis will last and whether or not something harsher will follow.
Daughter#1 is finishing graduate school and heading out for her post-graduate studies in a year.
Daughter#2 is still in high school.
I'm trying to keep a stiff upper lip in front of the kids although I feel helpless for their futures.

My husband and I have worked hard over the course of our marriage and have acquired a house, a house which was hit hard in the 1999 Athens earthquake that we had to rebuild most of it and replace everything that was destroyed. The only upside is that we have no bank loan or mortgage hanging over our heads, like friends who have lost their income and are being bullied by banks and threatened to be thrown on the street.

I have no idea how the hell in the short span of my lifetime I have witnessed the working people of Greece winning the right to Christmas, Easter and vacation bonuses (what we call the 13th & 14th salaries) and in the same lifetime these rights being savagely ripped away from us, the working class. I have paid my god damn taxes ever since I started working 23 years ago. I have paid any and all dues the Greek state requested from me. But whenever I asked something from the state there were never any available funds.

A quick example: after the Athens earthquake of 1999 (since we're on the subject), our town was hit hard and the elementary school my daughter attended had collapsed. The god-damn Ministry of Education was unable to fund its rebuilding and advised us -the parents/earthquake victims- to find sponsors! And I ask: If the Greek state can't provide its citizens with education and health, why the hell are we being taxed for? And why-oh-why is it always us, the blue & white collar workers that have to pay more? Are there no rich people to tax? Who, by the way, how the hell DID they get rich, eh? MAYBE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PAY THEIR TAXES?

When will this system ever feel full? Never mind, I know the answer.
Never.

Now you see, Internet, why I put off posting my thoughts?
BECAUSE I AM MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TAKE ANY MORE.

THIS CRISIS IS NOT MINE
IT'S NOT MY HUSBAND'S
IT'S NOT MY BROTHER'S
IT'S NOT MY SISTER-IN-LAW'S
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT MY DAUGHTERS', MY NEPHEW'S AND MY UNBORN NEPHEW'S
IT'S NOT MY ELDERLY PARENTS' & PARENTS-IN-LAWS' WITH THEIR FEEBLE PENSION OF 400 euros!!!!

Now, you know I'm mad because I don't use capitals lightly.