Are You a Have or a Have Not?

What determines whether you are a “Have” or “Have Not”?  You might own a nice BMW car that you have driven for over ten years.  Will others automatically think you are a Have?  But little did they know that I had purchased the car used from my neighbor who owned a small shop that located and sold previously owned foreign cars they found in excellent shape.

What if you live in a nice neighborhood but purchased one of the smaller homes?  Do I fall under the Haves?  What if you are currently living in a double-wide trailer in a large trailer park on the outskirts of town – will you be considered a Have Not?

With so many moves during my childhood (45 moves before graduating high school), I encountered many Haves and Have Nots.  While moving, it wasn’t always obvious who had what.  In one tiny town that we were transferred to, the only available rental property we could locate to live in was a large single-wide trailer.  It contained two bedrooms, a living area with a fold-down dining table, a six-foot long kitchen, and one skinny bathroom for the four of us to share.  The trailer was situated on a well-kept grassy lot with a 14’ x 14’ cement pad as a platform for our lightweight, aluminum, folding lawn chairs with webbing straps and picnic table.

At this location, I met one of the nicest girls I had ever met, who welcomed me immediately and unconditionally after our move into the trailer park.  Despite wearing braces and my unruly long, wavy hair, Leslie was not intimidated by anything she saw.  She was thankful to have a new friend and neighbor.  It wasn’t often new people moved into this tiny town.

I believe we should all try to act in this fashion.  Having a transient society and the fact that companies often transfer employees at the drop of a hat, we need to put ourselves in their shoes and become more welcoming.  My current neighbors in my cul-de-sac are from Vietnam, Venezuela, New York, Louisiana, and Mississippi.  And my husband and I moved to the Houston area eight years ago from Colorado.  Some people might be frightened not knowing the cultures and habits of citizens from different countries.  One thing is for sure; if you live in the Houston area at this time, you know it is now one of the most diverse cities in the United States.  I believe it is because of our medical center and NASA, which is a magnet to many from outside the U.S.

Helping those at a deficit or who have encountered tragedy, weather, or fire-related catastrophic events should be a priority of those who have worked hard and remember how they might have struggled at one point.  Many foundations and groups devote their time and treasures to assisting the less fortunate.

Listed below are a few agencies that you might consider helping.

1. SalvationArmyUSA.org or 1-800-SAL-ARMY
2. Catholiccharities.org
3. https://www.ywca.org/
4. ModestNeeds.org
5. https://www.unitedway.org/
6. https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html
7. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/

In your area of the world, you can look for those who need assistance and find many organizations to help others with rent and groceries.

I’m grateful to all those present and past friends who opened themselves up to make a friend and who have remained in my life, whether I can connect with them even periodically.

All my best,

Julie