A friend who doesn't get enough credit...

My friend Meggan is an AMAZING woman. And I don't think she gets the credit she deserves. And though I realize she will probably never see this, and that's ok, I feel the need to tell everyone of her story.

Times are tough in this struggling economy. Jobs are scarce and money is tight. Too tight. Families are losing their jobs, their income, and their ability to provide for their families. It is happening far more than we can all imagine. It's hard for some people to not be able to go out to dinner, or to a movie, or to buy that expensive whatever because they just can't spare the extra expense. But for some, it's way more than that. Refridgerators sit empty. Mortgages can't be paid. Creditors start calling. People search for whatever income they can find. That's where this story begins.

Meggan's husband is a carpenter. An out of work carpenter. With no income, the family is pretty much desperate. Meggan takes a night shift working at a bar in town. It's helping, but it's not enough to support a family of four (Meggan has two boys, 8 and 5). Her kids and her husband miss her terribly, because she's gone so much.

Somehow, shortly after taking on the job as a part-time bartender, she lands a full time job during the day. Now Meggan works an 8-430 job and a 6-whenever the bar closes job. As her babysitter, I hear her kids crying because they miss their mommy. She's working all the time and gets to spend no time with her family and her little boys.

Miraculously, her husband finds work. It's only temporary, a few months at best, but it's work. Work from 230 - midnight. But despite her husband's new job, Meggan must keep her two jobs. Now the boys miss their mom and dad because they're always at work.

Where are the economic bailouts for people like this? These are the people who are stuggling to keep their kids fed and the bills paid. The people who would do anything for their families. But yet, they are left to fend for themselves.

Tonight, while babysitting Meggan's kids (who, putting it mildly, can be a handful), I realized just how amazing this woman is. I, myself, am struggling to get by, but my story is nothing like hers. This is an incredible woman. And I hope to one day be more like her.