no job/no unemployment/debts/dependents/ can one beat the panic? Can one really help an OLDER family member in this position?

My sister is a single mother of a sixteen year old boy- She's over sixty- MS in health sciences from a radical/hippy-like college on the west coast- for the last many, many years, she's gotten by being an independent contract- an excellent researcher and speaker- on stress management, humor in the workplace and diversity in the work place. Brilliant/poor judgment.
Years ago, my parents used to tell her she should get some kind of steady employment, even part-time with health benefits and even a small retirement, but she kept insisting that she earns more as a consultant than she could as an employee.
The economic downturn affected agencies and companies that hired her regularly- no budget- the need but no budget for her talents. She got badly injured by a car runing over her two years ago and rather than planning for a future, did nothing to promote herself- Also, when she was earning good money, she spent it fixing her kitchens and baths. She recently had a good contract fall apart- unwisely she made plane reservations before having signed a contract because she had worked many times for this municipality somewhere in Texas, and had nothing else lined up. My son and I have given her over a thousand dollars, a mere nothing when she has no equity in her house and no savings.
So- I give her what I can- enourage her by telling her that with all the time she spends sending out resumes for $12.00 per hour pt jobs and keeps sending speaking proposals, the odds are greatly in her favor. I go on line and send her links for jobs, and I will continue to send her gas money for the week. I tell her not to be proud to reach out to social services- She may not have paid into unemployment but she has worked hard and has never been dependent upon government help. Also, I send her 20.00 every couple of weeks for manicures to boost her confidence, and congratulate every effort, If 130,000 troops weren't just sent to Afganistan, maybe the government can assure even those behind mortgage payments- that they will be able to eat, keep their houses and pay for utilites. She would gladly lend her talents if she could meet her basic needs,

and we're fighting two wars in the middle east- money that should be used to help the poor, dispbled and elderly

yes, when our President was elected our country was in a sorry State, but it still is- the rich are getting richer and the poor are without hope-

Rampage in Arizona-

the language of hate was communicated with a gun. The political divide in the State might have created this kind of activity- a shooting rampage - a committed, approachable congresswoman in serious condition and six people dead- including a six year old-

trusting or mistrusting a borderline personality

does she want to get better or not? It's so hard to tell.

back to the old neighborhood

By spring of 1970, the once hearty evergreen garden in front of 1456 Townsend Avenue had become spiny with glistening pieces of shattered broken bottles  and candy wrappers. Glancing down at the sidewalks as I rushed to the safety of my apartment lay half smoked cigarettes, still burning, used prophylactics and dog poop. The neighborhood was dirty and unsafe. I walked down my old street Saturday. It's a pretty block now, with a trash can holding the litter that used to stick to the pavement, just as i remember it when i was a little kid!

(I found this while reading my blog. It was written in 2010.

what is a religious person?

is a religious person one who scams friends for his own financial gain?
is a religious person one who makes promises and forgets, not thinking that others bank on his words?
is a religious person one who maltreats co-workers and will backstab them just to get ahead?
is a religious person an insecure administrator, who hinders the most able person in the organization from getting a promotion and who could well serve troubled adolescents who depend upon its services . Is that same religious person keeping an intelligent, humble man who could easily put back together a crumbling facility, just so she won't look incompetent?
is a religious person one who judges a person's worth based on his title, fame or financial worth?
I think not.

I get verbally assaulted everyday so...

...it's no wonder why I question my worth.