Dear Mom,

I know it’s been a while since you heard from me, so I thought I’d let you know what’s going on. I’ve been really busy lately or I would have written sooner.

My idea about getting a job in one of the automobile plants didn’t work out. I know that Uncle Leonard used to work there, but that was a long time ago and things are different now. It seems when the economy declined the automobile industry did too. You may have seen on TV how much trouble they had with near bankruptcy and having to borrow money from the government.

But that’s not my problem, thank goodness. They have a great public transportation system here called the people mover. It’s a rail system and you can ride it for only 50 cents so who needs a car anyhow, as long as you live close enough to walk to the train.

You wouldn’t believe how bad things got for this city when the auto industry started laying off. When I first saw the city, I was in shock for about three days before my mind could comprehend it. Probably a third of the buildings are vacant. It is sort of creepy to see those empty eyes looking at you all the time, and you have to wonder where all the people are.

I’m getting used to it now, though. It is sort of nice because it isn’t so crowded. Even the homeless people have migrated elsewhere. No use hanging around when there is nobody to panhandle money from.  A lot of the billionaires left too. They just moved out of their big mansions and left them to crumble. Some are falling in and being torn down and some have been turned into other things like fancy restaurants.

Real estate is dirt cheap. I found a great place to live for only $700 per month and I’m trying to save for a down payment on a condo. There are a lot of really nice lofts that would go for millions in New York. There are lot of urban yuppies that like living downtown where the action is. The bohemians have started up art galleries in some of the abandoned buildings. They are buying up cheap real estate so when things get better they can resell and move to Mexico to retire young.

Speaking of work, I finally found a job! All my hacking around with computers came in really handy. Businesses are trying to get a technology corridor going in town. I found this neat place to work where they let you ride scooters down the halls and write on the walls. We get free snacks and can work our own hours. It is so cool that it makes it almost worth sitting in front of a computer all day.

Well, I gotta go now. I’m going to take in a baseball game this afternoon. I’ve become a big Tiger’s fan. The stadium is right downtown and I can go anytime. All the people come in from the ‘burbs and the city really comes alive during a game.

You should come to visit me sometime. I think you would like the Institute of Art. And we could probably get a ride from one of my friends to the Motown Museum where all the stars from the 50’s recorded. You would remember the words to all those old songs by heart. There are still a lot of neat places to see here like Belle Isle in the Detroit River. I know you would like the buffet at the Greektown casino even if you don’t like to gamble. 

I’m sorry about not writing sooner. If you happen to have a few extra dollars you can send, it would really help me out until next payday. 

I’ll call you soon.

Love,
Your Daughter

Copyright 2011 Sheila Moss