Oh the irony!

[youthere]

Okay, bear with me on this...I'm not the most eloquent speaker.

I live in the country on a moderately busy gravel road. I know all my neighbors (neighbors being defined as anyone who lives within a mile and half of me) and they are all pretty nice people... with the exception of one lady who lives 1/2 mile south of me. She's one of those batshit crazy fundies who has homeschooled her son for years out of the BIBLE because "It's the only book he really needs". Now it's no secret in our little slice of the woods that my husband and I are Democrats. All our vehicles sport Democratic bumper stickers and slogans, each election year our yard is full of signs to support the Dem candidates (with the exception of our county sheriff this year-running as a Republican, but a very good man and a hell of a sheriff), and it's no secret she's a Republican for the same reasons. She also keeps a huge hand lettered plywood board by her driveway that says "Abortion..an Abomination unto the LORD".

Even with all of that, my husband and I try hard to be civil to her...it's a small town and we believe that (for the most part) neighbors need to be decent to one another. I've had plenty of WTF? conversations with this woman, and a few near blow-outs. (She told me a couple years ago that she couldn't believe how clean our house was because Democrats are usually such dirty people- I know-WTF?)
Several weeks ago she stopped by to see if she could have some of the extra apples from our trees. We had already gotten all we wanted and had been picking up the fallen ones to give to the chickens and the calves-so I said "Of course!" So I got a couple five gallon buckets and the apple picker and we went out to get apples for her.

As we were picking we were chatting away. It's been a rough year for her. Her husband filed for divorce earlier in the year (I knew this) because he found a new girlfriend, and she's had to pick up a couple part time jobs to support her and her son because her ex doesn't want to pay child support. So that leads us into a whole conversation on the economy and how times are getting tight. She then gets on this tangent about how anyone who isn't making it is either A. Lazy B. Doesn't know how to manage their money or C. Both. Since this was one of the "nicer" visits I've had with her, I jsut let it drop and changed the subject. I asked her how the homeschooling was going and she told me she had enrolled her son in the public school in the next town over because she didn't have time to school him any more because of her jobs, and she was furious because the school wanted to put him in "special" classes because the kid can barely function at a second grade level (he's in fifth) and she refuses to let them do it. I just sighed and let her carry on.

I haven't spoken to her since that day (I'm not avoiding her or anything..I just haven't seen her), and then yesterday, about 3:00 I get THE CALL. It's from a finance company looking for her. They wanted a phone number to reach her and a bunch of other personal information about her. The woman was extremely rude on the phone. I didn't give them any info but it made me kind of chuckle. THEN I'm visiting last night at my OTHER neighbors who live slightly south of her and I told them about the call I'd gotten and they said "Oh yeah! They've been calling us too. In fact, the wrecker was there the other day..they want to repo her JEEP, but she's got it hidden way out back in some tall weeds. "
So I'm dying to ask this woman..."Are you lazy? Or do you just not know how to manage your money? Maybe it's BOTH?"

On Edit: And what I REALLY want to know..will she still vote for McCain?

[Mira]

1. I read this reluctantly, because I have a hard time reading typing

that has no breaks and no paragraphs.
But I like the story, it made me feel like I was visiting with Minnie Pearl, for some reason.

You are a perfectly eloquent speaker, just break it up for the reader, and we will more welcome your tales from the front.
What a hoot.

I think I go clean my dirty democrat(ic) house now.

[youthere]

2. LOL!

I guess I never thought about breaking it up. I just wanted to get it out. It does rather read like rambling..doesn't it? I added some breaks, so hopefully it's better now. Thanks for the head's up!
Get busy you filthy democrat!:rofl:

[Mira]

6. OH yes - now I can think while I read - not squint - thanks for the fix

[youthere]

8. Thanks for the input!

[immoderate]

3. Reads fine to me...

Probably best that you didn't challenge her beliefs. She wouldn't have listened.

I think all fundies have some irony in their destiny.

--IMM

[youthere]

4. I don't think she would have either...

She's one of those people who believes there is a war on Christmas and that Obama is thirsty for the blood of the unborn.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. She's nuts

I feel for the kid - imagine being stuck in the house with that woman while she preached whatever she's pulling from the Bible, and now the boy has to be put into special classes. Her husband's gone, and the story about child support is fishy.

Does she know that it's a sin to lie? Annoys God, or so I'm told.

Now she's hiding from her creditors. Does she know that stealing is a sin? Another one that pisses off God, I've heard.

You were nice to give her those apples, and you were very nice, and very smart, to steer around her inane comments. She lives in her own little world, and you don't have a ghost of a chance of invading it with logic, facts, and/or reality.

Great post. Thanks.

[youthere]

7. In all the time I've known her...

She's always had a (shall we say) "flair" for drama. I don't spend that much time around her, but whenever you do talk to her she has these amazing stories about things that happen to her, and there's always a persecution theme to them. I only met the husband a couple of times, and he seemed like a decent enough guy, quiet, but pleasant enough.
I feel bad for the kid too. He seems to be a nice enough kid. He's a year younger than our boy, and my son thinks he's a little odd, but plays with him once in a great while. She doesn't usually let him come down to our house, only VERY occasionally to swim in the summertime.
My husband and I figure the best way to convince her, is to be kind to her and her son.

[Oilwellian]

9. Poor baby

That's who I feel for the most in this story. Perhaps there's some way you can help him while his mother struggles with reality.

[Javaman]

10. You know what?

I feel sorry for her.

Her ignorance brought her to this point. Perhaps she will learn a lesson.

Perhaps not.

either way, she is losing her car, is alone, has to work two jobs to make ends meet (which is apparently not working) and has a child that is basically now a special needs child.

I finally hit the wall, I can no longer take joy in the misery of other peoples problems, even if they are fundies, neo-cons or right wingers.

I did for a long time, but I just don't have it in me any longer.

we are in a really really bad time economically for this nation.

I can't take joy at the misfortunes of others.

The only thing I hope for, is that people like this woman realize that the world does not revolve around them and that all their own problems aren't the democrats fault.

We have just passed through a very dark and ignorant time in this nation. we need to start helping each other, not tearing each other down.

No offense to the OP. I completely understand where you are coming from and I have witnessed first hand the complete and utter willful stupidity and ignorance of the right wing. And I was one to be the first to cast ridicule.

But I just can't do it anymore.

This woman needs help, no matter how stupid, ignorance and evil she is perceived to be.

[youthere]

11. That's admirable...it really is..

And I don't take any offense either. ;).
There's a part of me does feel sorry for this woman, and I definitely feel sorry for her son. I just hope (like you) there is a reawakening on her part.

[gratuitous]

14. Of course she needs help

And I agree that it's inappropriate to laugh at her. But how in the world are you going to penetrate a skull like that? The only way is to stay in relationship with her, but everyone has his or her limit. By this point, I'd be reduced to asking her the Dr. Phil question: "Honey, you've put all your trust in the Republican platform and its attendant religious mumbo-jumbo. You're broke, you're dodging creditors. I don't see John McCain and George Bush beating a path to your door to help you out. Your church friends, if you have any, aren't much in evidence, either. The only person who seems to be lending you a hand in your hour of need is a filthy Democrat with a surprisingly clean home. How's that workin' out for ya?"

[Javaman]

15. Yeah, I see what you mean...

The hardest thing for a person to do is to admit they are wrong.

a much more clever person than I would find a way to allow that person to retain their dignity while at the same time realize their mistake.

I wish I knew those magic words.

[youthere]

16. Me too.

Like I said, my husband and I figure the best way to reach her is to just be gracious to her. We don't score any points for our side by making her angry or trying to fruitlessly argue with her...though I still reserve the right to shake my head at her stupidity.

[youthere]

17. Bwahahaha!!

That made me snort my tea...
" The only person who seems to be lending you a hand in your hour of need is a filthy Democrat with a surprisingly clean home. How's that workin' out for ya?"
:rofl:

[codjh9]

12. God - yes, what an irony. And the 'dirty' comment was weird even for Repukes.

[youthere]

13. That's still a running joke between my husband and I...

any time we catch each other on a cleaning bender we'll say "You know...you're awfully clean, for a Democrat!"