I was drowning in debt, and my family refused to help, wishing me luck instead. Years later ….

The Hard Climb and the Wedding Request

So what did I do? I buckled down.

I worked three jobs: one during the day, one at night, and on weekends I freelanced doing graphic design. I didn’t sleep much.

I didn’t go out and I sure as hell didn’t call my family again. I just worked.

Slowly but surely, I started to climb out of that hole. It took years, years of saying no to myself so I could say yes to my future.

Fast forward about 8 years. By then I had my own business, a house, and a decent car that didn’t rattle when I turned left.

I was doing well, better than I ever imagined. I wasn’t just afloat; I was cruising.

Life was good. Then one day I get a call from Karen.

I hadn’t heard from her in ages so I figured it must be important. I pick up and she starts with small talk, all syrupy sweet.

“How’s my favorite sibling doing?” she asks. My favorite sibling, since when?

But I play along and eventually she gets to the point. “So I’m getting married,” she says.

I congratulated her, of course, and then she hit me with it. “We’re a little short on the wedding budget and I was hoping you could help out,” she said.

Oh, I almost choked on my coffee. I asked, “How short are we talking?”

This woman, this same woman who couldn’t spare $50 when I was eating canned beans, says, “About $15,000.” $15,000!

I let her ramble for a bit about how her dream venue had a cancellation and how she and Brad just had to have a live band and a champagne wall. I was quiet, just letting her dig that hole.

When she finally stopped to breathe I said, “Wow Karen, that really sucks, but you’re the resourceful one in the family remember?” Dead Silence.

Then I added, “Oh and tell Mom I’ll be praying for you.” She hung up on me.