I was reading another blog ( www.weareintrouble.com )  and there was a post about a possible Scenario that got me thinking.  Ok, I know that can be scary enough..lol.  But, really, it got me thinking about different things that could happen and how do we react...or respond is the better word, as 'reacting' implies an unpreparedness of thought or planning.

So, I look around me in my little life, in my little town and think............What could affect me here and how.

So, here we go........Make Believe with ME


Scenario #1

We are in a continued recession that, quite frankly, is looking more and more like a depression.  Alot of people are out of work, I've just been laid off from the Elk Hunting business as the owners have decided without hunters who can afford to come out west, there is no reason to keep things going.

So that means, both I and DH are without work in 2 weeks.  We each had a 401k but, with the stock market tanking and now below 9000, there is next to nothing we can count on to help us out.  Its just gone, like so many other peoples 401k and pensions.  I had already been a bit nervous about things, so I pulled our money out of the bank early--one week before it folded, so I at least have that.

In this little mountain town, where the economy is based on tourism, there is little to no work to be found and there are 20 people for every job opening.  DH used to do construction, but he is too old for that now, and I used to wait tables but no one is building and no one is going to restaurants these days, so thats out.  The tourists stopped coming months ago as it was just too durn expensive and people are struggling to just buy food and pay bills and put gas in the car, since gas is now over $7 a gallon.

We rent from our employers, tho they are very kind and not about to rush us out of the place, it is clear that they would like to sell this place as soon as possible, and hope we will buy it.  As this place is too small for our long term goals, we are not interested in buying, tho it sure would make things easier in a way.  But real estate values have dropped another 30 % from last year, they are hoping to recoup their market value of last year, and I understand that and sympathize with them, but in our eyes what they are asking is not realistic and just too expensive for us, even if we did decide to stay here.

I have some savings, enough to move us and for deposits and to last awhile if we can find a place, but renting a truck and paying the gas for it is going to be very costly.  Especially as the value of the dollar has dropped below 52, and inflation is going nuts right now.  We have to have a plan, and hopefully one where we end up in a decent place or can buy something affordable.  Banks have been closing, the US alone has lost over 6000 of them in the last 6 months--so getting a loan is impossible.  We need enough to buy something, hopefully a lease purchase, but without jobs, who will be willing to take a gamble on us?

No relatives we can borrow from, or move in with---I have a sister and her husband that we can maybe band together, but their finances are trickier than ours.

We have 30 days to get ourselves in order and move...............



So what could we have done 6 months, or a year ago?

Well,......if we made a commitment to set aside emergency funds, that would give us a cushion and an extra amount for deposit/down payment when we find a place.

If we had bought gold or silver years ago when we saw this coming, we would have the increased value to sell and buy either a small place of our own or even just a piece of land to start with and get us out of this hole.

If we had food preps, we would not have to worry about using our shrinking dollars for food.

If we had set aside some gas cans, that would help with using gas for the move.

If we had no credit card debt, we wouldnt have to worry about being hounded constantly for payments.

If there are NO  jobs around, we could have made sure we developed or thought of other skills to fall back on--nursing, care of elderly, home repairs, herbals, sewing, creating resumes for people, running errands (they pay for gas)...

If we had stocked up on some things, we could possible sell some items that are in demand now.

If we had chickens or a garden, we could sell eggs, fresh produce to help out.

If we had done any of the above, we would be in a better situation to face Scenario #1.  Without, well--it would mean, no money saved to help or pay for the move, no way to afford a place to rent or buy in order to move, no other forms of work to garner income, no food saved up to help out, no gas we can afford...and that means:

No food, no home, no income, nowhere to go...... 

Chilling, isnt it?


Ok, more fun.....


Scenario #2 -  MAKE BELIEVE****************************************

We are toodeling along in our little lives, going to work, complaining about high gas and food prices but hanging in there.  Worried about our jobs, yeah, a bit here and there, but things are still moving along.  I wake up one morning and hit CNN as I usually do, have my cup of tea in my hand and settle down to see whats happening this day. 

First is the usual financial stuff, market down, dollar down, Mideast tension, Russia pissed off about this or that, Britney is back in rehab, new hurricane forming that may or may not come into the Gulf, insurgents fought off in Fallujah again, then a report about some kind of flu showing up in the west and east coasts.  Alot of people sick and the hospitals are starting to fill up.  The story is presented as 'this is the usual flu story', no big deal, we sure have seen this every spring and fall, haven't we.  Some advice and info on precautions to take, wash your hands, keep some handiwipes with you, dont hang around coughing sneezing people, get your flu shots, the usual stuff, yadda, yadda, yadda.

So I go to work on Wednesday, have an average kind of day, and go home afterwards.  Turn on the news again and more of the same report.  Later, I go to my computer and click on my favorite prep sites.  There are a few posts about the flu, a specific virus that has popped up and kinda has people with alot of questions...what is it, its new, never been seen before---there are alot of professionals digging into it--I really trust those guys, there are alot of smart cookies on those sites.

So I head off to bed, not giving anything another thought except the price of meat rising and wondering if I should grab a few things I saw on sale in one of the grocery stores and do some more canning this week.

In the morning, me with my trusty cup of Earl Grey Tea in hand, I turn CNN to see what the day will bring me.  More on Iraq, Iran acting up again and threatening Israel and the US, Britney left rehab again, the Fed saying the US economy is recovering nicely and they expect a great year for the later half of 2009, ...and the flu is spreading.  Some people are being interviewed, it seems like about 20 have died from it just since yesterday.  It was quite a shock, the ones that died were 12 college students and the rest in their early 30s.  Screen shots of the families, so damn sad to loose someone so young, so damn sad.

More warnings about washing hands, using wipes, covering your mouth and nose with the crook of your arm when you sneeze, but nothing alarmist about it--everythings under control--its just the flu.  Tragic that those people died, but its just the flu.  And more alerts about getting your flu shot, except these seems to be shortages--they ask that the elderly and very young be allowed to get their shots first.  Screen shots of people lining up at the Health Depts to get their flu shots with long lines.  Warnings about if you are sick, to call your doctor right away and not go into work to try to tough it out.  A report on hospitals really filling up now, nurses running ragged, not enough beds.

Its spreading.  Its in 4 more states now.

But, not to worry, its just another yearly bout with a bad flu.  They say this one came out of China, but they havent got it nailed yet.  But still, they want people to go get flu shots, and take precautions just in case.

Well, I dont worry to much as Im in a small mountain town, we are so remote-----so I head off to work.  One of the ladies there also works in the local hospital part time and I ask her about it--'Do we have any flu cases here?"  She tells me, "Oh, just a few, but its not as bad as on tv".  So, I dont worry about it.

Later that evening, after work, I get a glass of wine, sit in my favorite chiar, grab the remote and turn on the tv to CNN---but there was no more talk about Britney or whats happening with Russia being pissed off at us, the lead story is the flu.  Now in 15 states and over 200 have died today.  I put my wine down and listen to the reporter.  She is a young woman in a hospital in NYC and SHE IS WEARING A MASK OVER HER FACE.  It seems so damn odd, and its a little hard to hear every word, but when asked about it by one of the talking heads, she says she was told it was required.  She doesnt seem nervous or anything, just sort of irritated at having to do it.  She probably should have stood outside the hospital, Im thinking--why be IN there at all.

But the flu is spreading, and spreading fast.  People are advised to stay home if they feel sick and call their doctors.  The hospitals have a waiting list to get in, only the sickest can come--and there is talk of a shortage of something called a ventilator, that they need for the sickest ones.   And a really strange thing--a hot line number is put up on the screen for people to call if they think they are sick--what is THAT!  They've never done THAT before!

Then the story changes from the flu to the stock market and more of the same old stuff, so I decide to head for my computer and the prep forums to see if there is any new info.  And WOW, is there info!  It seems like over 500 people have died, not 200, that some hospitals  sent in their reports later since the CNN news story---man, this thing is spreading fast! Some people have tracked down all sorts of stuff--and theres some nutso posts, about it being a Bio Weapon attack and such, but I just want to read about people posting in their own cities and whats happing there.  I like the local stories.  I finally sign off at 11pm and have an uneasy feeling.  I mentally check items on hand, antiviral tinctures, prescription meds, extra money, finally I lay back and say a prayer for those who have died and their families.  Im not sure I want to see the news in the morning.

Next morning, 7am, Thursday, I have CNN on---and its frightening---the flu has spread to EVERY STATE--over 3000 PEOPLE HAVE DIED!!  I clutch my cup of Earl Gray and just sit there staring at the tv screen---this is a Nightmare!!!  What is happening, this is so fast!  3000 people dead!  I cant imagine that number.  Wait, Homeland Security is issuing a statement---Damn!  Its just a crawler--they will have a report at 10am--hell!  Ill be at work!  How do I get on the net at work to hear this!  I dont WANT to go to work, I want to hear this report!

I go to the office and the lady who works there and also at the hospital part time was called in, so she wont be in today.  No other message from her--just that she wont be in today.  I half-hartedly go about my work, just waiting for the time for the report , I WANT to know whats going on!  At 9:55 I sneak on the internet hoping to catch the news alert from Homeland Security, but I dont have speakers for my work computer so Im looking for news copy.  At 10:10 I find one---they say dont worry, its not an attack, its just a very dangerous flu and for people to stay home if possible, that schools are going to close and to not make any unnecessary trips, and that if you have any symptoms to call the hotline number and to NOT go to the hospital as they are overflowing with people.

Whoa!

This is not good.

By Saturday, 5000 people dead now.  Tens of Thousands infected and sick, trying to get into hospitals all over the country.  Maybe the nutso post about a Bio attack wasnt so far wrong.... this sure inst natural!  Grocery stores are swamped with crowds of people buying whatever they can, fights breaking out, airports are closing!  Some banks are even closing---I mentally run through my mind what I can do.  But wait, I have to call my kids--one is a school teacher, I have to see how she is doing, if she is safe--wait--my husband is off on a hunt, he picked up his hunters yesterday at the airport---were any of them sick i frantically wonder.  I have to call him! 

I call my daughter, the school teacher, she is at home, the school has been closed--I ask her if she is well, is she coughing or sneezing or anything!  She says she is fine and though some children were taken out due to sickness, none in her class were ill. 

She is starting to get scared.  They have no extra food in the house and barely any extra money.  She doesnt know how long she will be out of work or if she will get paid.  She was told they would receive their next paycheck, but no one answered her about afterwards.  She doesnt know how long she will be out of work or what to do.

I call the other kids, 2 others  have office jobs and one is a cook in a restaurant.  They were all sent home---same story, no food, no money, they dont know how long this will last or what to do.  I tell them the same thing, come here as soon as you can.  There is the trailer out front, Ill set it up as a quarrantine I figure.  That and the garage, I can set that up with separate areas.  If no one shows any symptoms after a few days, they can come into the house

I call my husbands cell---no answer.  But I dont let that scare me, as that is not unusual in his location.  I leave a message asking him to check in, hoping he will call in the evening.  Im a bit anxious as I really want to talk with him and hear his voice---Please God, I pray, make him call me!

Monday, I go into the office and pretend to work--I dont deal with the public I tell myself, it will be fine. At lunch time I run to the bank and pull out almost all we have.  I didnt want to panic, but I figure its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not be able to get to it.  Its only $800, but, still--its mine and  Id rather have it around.  Then I hit the grocery store and stock up on some perishable.  I have some wipes in my purse and use them on the grocery cart handle and afterwards use one to wipe my hands just in case.  We already have a decent food storage at home so I feel pretty good about it, but its nice to have some fresh stuff.  And comfort items--

At home that night, I get a call from my husband--Im so relieved to hear his voice!  I tell him what is happening and what the  news has been saying--he is alarmed to say the least.  Being out in the country out of contact, he had no idea of what was happening the last week.  I ask him if he is ok and he says yes--but he is worried because one of the hunters has been sick since he arrived.  As he says this to me on the phone, my heart freezes up.  I asked him if the sick hunter was one of those he picked up at the airport  and he says no---but they are all together in a bunkhouse and the sick guy has been in bed since he arrived and said he just needed to rest.  The sick hunter told everyone he just had a bad cold and was fine and just wanted to go to bed early.

Im terrified. 

I tell him that the airports are closing and people are told to stay home.  I ask him if he can make it home as I read on the net that road blocks were being set up and people were starting to act crazy.  He is 200 miles away. I want him home.   I ask him if anyone else there knows whats going on---and he says no, he doesnt think so but everyone is concerned about the sick man and they decided to take him to the closest hospital that evening as he seemed to have trouble breathing.  He thought it was the altitude difference at first, as many hunters have trouble breathing til they adjust, but now thinks the guy is really sick.

As we are talking, my husband says to me "Hold on a sec" and I hear another man talking excitedly to him.  Then I hear my husband gasp "Oh, my God...are you sure?  Oh, my God" and then there is silence for a moment.  He comes back to the phone after a few moments.....'What?? What happened, whats wrong?' I say too loud. .....softly he says 'Hes dead.  Chico just went to check on him, and hes dead.  Oh, my God'.

I am trembling so much I have a hard time holding the phone and start to cry.  'Dont worry' he say to me, 'Dont worry.  Let me figure this out----I love you.  Ill call you back in a few minutes.  Dont worry....I love you very much, Ill call you back soon."

That is the last I ever heard my husbands voice. 

Im told he died the next day.  He took sick later that evening.  I  never saw his body nor do I know where he was laid to rest.  All I know is that he died within 24 hours of the first mans death.  Of the whole camp of 12, only 2 survived.  One of the guides came weeks later to my door to tell me.  I didnt ask him to come in and he was not offended.  He didnt want to come in anyway.  He work a mask over his face.  I remember his eyes were burning...with what, I do not know.  I prayed he was not sick.  But I wore a mask too.  He stood about 5 feet from the door and told me what happened to my husband.  I was very grateful for that kindness.  I had been frantically calling his cell for days and there was no answer.  I suspected the worse, but you know, its just better to know.  After he was done, I asked him if he needed food.  I knew he had a wife and three kids, and bagged up some cans of soup, a box of instant rice, jar of peanut butter and some cans of spaghetti-ohs.  I told him to wipe everything down with some bleach and put in a small bottle.  He started crying, told me my husband was a good man, thanked me and left.

One week later: 2 of my kids made it here, one son and one daughter.  I put her in the trailer and him in the garage when they arrived, where I had set up a cot for them to stay for a whole week to make sure they werent sick before they came into the house.  I have not heard from the other 2 kids.  They never arrived.  It haunts me...are they alive?  Do they need my help?  Where are they?  My babies, where are my babies?

No one goes into work anymore.  I sit here at home with my 2 surviving children.  They are good company for my soul,as I feel numb and empty.  We have kept the garden up and are getting food from it.  Its been raided a few times, but it is so far back on the land, not many people even know its there.  There is only 3 of us, there is no way we can protect it 24/7---and what would we do?  Shoot a starving, desperate person?

I sorely miss my husband and other children.  Most nights I cry myself to sleep and sometimes I tell myself to just shut up and deal with it.  The grocery stores are empty, no deliveries.  No one to deliver.  The banks are closed, I guess martial law was declared as the TV says we are only allowed to be out for a few hours--but hell, were would we go? And who is to stop us?  There is no one anywhere.  I have food enough for us for about 6-7 months if we are careful, but thats it unless the garden really produces well.  Electricity is on for a few hours a day, but I dont know for how long.  I make sure we fill up everything with water every chance we have.  There is a bad smell coming from my next door neighbors house, but Im afraid to go in there.

TV is still on for a few hours a day, but only a few channels, but its always the same thing.  The same frozen faces saying over and over....'We will overcome and survive this.  America will be great again!'   I heard we nuked some country but I dont know which one.  I guess someone in the government decided we had to strike back at someone.  I just hope they hit the right ones.  They say that 2.5 million are dead now, no where to put the bodies, I guess they are burning them.  Somebody who says they are the president comes on and tells us the worst is over and we will be back on our feet soon, and that we will soon be seeing friendly troops from other countries coming in to help with the 'Recovery' and to assist them. Flu deaths are winding down, there are fewer cases every week.

Sometimes people come and knock on the door, begging for food.  I used to answer and try to help, but I cant any more.  Sometimes I just hide behind the door, not making a sound, praying God will send them somewhere where they can get help.  But am I supposed to be their help, I wonder.  Do we have enough left? For how long?   Im afraid to part with any of it.  If I see a child, I just have to answer though.  I cant bear seeing a hungry child. 

I hear gun shots every night.  Each of us sleep with a rifle next to us every night, and keep everything locked up tight.  So far, no one has tried to break in.  We dont use any lights after dark, I dont want anyone to know we have anything, and I cook 2 meals a day with a small alcohol stove inside the house and try to keep smells of cooking food down to a minimum.  We try to keep a low profile.  They say that the 'friendly foreign troops' will soon set up Recovery Centers with free food and stuff in every town.  My one daughter wants us to go and sign up, she says we need the help.  I dont feel that way, neither does my son.  With our remaining food stores and what we can get from the garden, we can last longer that I thought.  I dont want to sign up for anything from anyone.  It scares me somewhere deep inside.

I dont know how long we can last or what will happen to us. 

God, how I miss my husband and other 2 children.

I pray for Gods Mercy and Direction.