I hope somebody can help me out of this. I feel absolutely HEARTSICK.

[markodochartaigh]

76. I'm 67

I'm gay, have Asperger's, and my family struggled to stay in the working class and in our home.

In Texas I never thought that the state government would help people like me. As for local government, I was raised to avoid the police and any government officials at all cost. The federal government was certainly infinitely more supportive, but it was so far away and had very little positive impact locally.

Almost all of my Mom's family had moved to California by my teens (we had zero contact with my Dad's family), so I knew a better life was possible, even if extremely expensive.

My Grandmother (whose Grandparents were from the "famine" times) told me that everything that people make, governments, churches, workhouses, kings and queens, come and go. So never put all your hope in them and never completely despair because of them. She said to spend time every day observing nature because, although it fails sometimes, it always will return to its cycles throughout the ages of ages.

I absolutely believe that, for most people in the whole of the US, things have never been as dire as they are now. But it still helps me everyday to get out in my garden and take some porterweed cuttings to make more plants for the hummingbirds, to check my mango trees for ripe fruit, or just to smell the jasmine and pick a few flowers for my tea.
I hope that you find your peace.