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Health & Fitness

Sequestration In Real Time

One couple's experience with Sequestration, continued.


I wrote a post in February, defining the onset of Sequestration cuts and the consequences to our household and an impending layoff. In March, I wrote an update titled, “Whack” and I stated the deed was done, let’s quit blaming each other and move on to the solution.   about the financial impact of Sequestration on our family, describing our circumstances and while feeling concerned for others, had not yet begun to understand exactly what it means to us.

It is now May 11; I can begin to share the impact Sequestration has had on us personally. I’ll be the first to acknowledge if my husband, Bill, had landed a job by now, I probably would be relegating Sequestration to a cobwebbed corner like many others are doing and have done. He hasn’t found employment, yet, so never being one to suffer alone, I’m dragging you readers through my current reality:

  • Our bank account is shrinking
  • Two people together 24/7 is sometimes, but not always, great.
  • Tri-Care is better than no insurance.
  • Our lifestyle is curtailed.
  • Age discrimination is only evident in salaries.


There were occasions when we paid off a car or loan when our savings took a big drop, but almost immediately, we began to rebuild. It’s been many years since I watched our bank accounts get smaller. Now, as our balances lower, there is no income to begin the rebuilding.

It’s been great having Bill at home…most of the time. We are getting some projects done and have time to devote to our own property after fulfilling our community commitments, but neither of us is ready for his retirement and occasionally that reality causes some tension in our current co-existence.

I’ve developed an arthritic hip that has nearly crippled me. To date, I have visited my doctor, had one x-ray, two prescriptions and a visit to an orthopedic  surgeon. Our expenses, after Tricare, are close to $600.00. I am going to need a cortisone injection soon and am concerned about the expense after Tri-Care pays their portion. The expense is not going to be the straw that breaks us, but it’s going to sting.

I keep hearing phrases like, “Haven’t seen you around much.”  I don’t exactly have a social life, but I do typically spend time at lunches and dinners, either in support of a cause, to talk over community issues or as part of a process to gain knowledge about an issue. I am limiting the amount of this type of interaction. For example, I will be delighted to attend the Patio for a Patio event for the Library Foundation because tickets are only $10.00! I may have to skip the NAIOP luncheon on May 28. I regret that because it’s certainly a topic I am interested in:
Beyond Sequestration:What's Ahead for the Regional Economy in the Wake of Federal Cutbacks? Ironically, I think the $65.00 tab for lunch may be out of my range.

Job recruiters are very interested in Bill. He has a desired skill set as an Oracle DBA, with TS/SCI. Unfortunately, no one is hiring to fill that position in his pay range. To be fair, there’s very little hiring going on in his career field, as everyone is waiting to see what happens next. Frankly, we are too.

(Delegate Rich Anderson has asked residents of the 51st House District to stay in close contact with him regarding the impact of sequestration on their livelihood and families.  As part of the Governor’s appointed committee to lessen the impact of Sequestration, He may be reached at DelRAnderson@house.virginia.gov, or at his legislative district office at 571-264-9983.)

Author's Note: It occurred to me the term "Cortisone Injection" may just sound like a shot...It is just a little more complicated than that, so I've attached a video for explanation.

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