The title for this piece (“Manual for an Unfortunate Moron”) came from an experience I had several years ago.

While working at my job I had to go to my local credit union to get quarters for laundry during lunch.

After many years I was still renting a home for my family in Los Angeles. Financial calamity, dysfunctional extended relationships, and medical challenges had left us in the state we were in.

We had made our rented place a home, but it had challenges.

Like paying for laundry machines to clean our clothes.

A co-worker saw that I was returning from lunch holding several rolls of quarters. He asked what they were for.

As I told him it was to do the laundry, he looked at me astonished that I didn’t own a washing machine or dryer.

When I proceeded to let him know that I was still living in a rented home after all these years, this co-worker did what I had seen him do in countless interactions over the years.

He was blunt, unsubtle and let the first thing in his head drop out of his mouth.

“What are you, a f@#king moron?!?”

It stung. It filled me with shame and anger.

I quickly shot back, “It’s been a little hard to save up when my finances got wiped out with medical crises, bankruptcy and caring for a son with autism.”

He got very quiet and mumbled an apology. We talked through some of it after that, but I was stuck with a nagging feeling.

I did feel like a moron.

I felt like I had made many choices that had led me to this point and I didn’t want the future to be like this.

Anyway… there’s a brief explanation of the title.

More to come.

#proofofbook #catholic #christian #writing #practiceinpublic #manualforamoron

Manual for an Unfortunate Moron Post #2