Eric一家都是金发碧眼，今年7月搬进我们在Plano的老房子，到现在4个月多一点儿。正如他的reference 说的，他是个好房客。他按时付租金，并从不为小事麻烦我们。我们每月上门收房租，都和他聊聊，慢慢的也就知道了一些他家里的事。比如最近他太太病了，说是肾上腺癌。她动了手术后，我们带着鲜花去家里看望。我们心里很同情他们。2个孩子6岁和2岁。6岁的女儿生下来就下肢残废，现在他太太又病了。我和老公商量说，如果他的租金迟了，不要难为他们。直到昨天，他告诉了我他的Blog地址，我看了后，真是吃惊啊。他的日子太难了。
As a landlord, 我当然知道Eric的收入。他的gross income 是$5,500/month。我们的的房租是$1，650/month。加上utility, 每月至少2000。他的信用只有460，所以借钱是不大可能的。从他的Blog上我看到：
“Normal monthly medical expenses before all of this were $1000 a month. This is co pays for Dr appointments, medication and medical supplies. The new drugs the Dr says I have to start on will be an additional $1400 a month and we have no idea what Triann's （ - his wife ）treatment and medication will add to that. That puts med expenses at $2400/mo not including premiums.”
他上个星期的Blog写到：
“+We are supposed to report to MD Anderson in Houston on Monday. I have been living on 6 dollars since last wed and most of the check on Friday will go to rent. I have to pay for gas, food, hotel and Dr bills next week and then hold on until the next check on the 15th.
+ My motorcycle is my main transportation, I had to park it last night until some of this clears up so I can buy a new rear tire. I picked up 5 (5?!?!) nails the first week I moved to Texas and have been watching it and airing it up as needed, yesterday it lost almost all of its air before I made it home.
+ I fired up my snow car (the car I use only for days I can't ride the bike). It has 207,000 miles on it but has always gotten me from here to there when I need it. It was out of gas, I spent the last 6 dollars to get to work this morning.
+ My annual evaluation is due at work. I have to sit down and focus long enough to write out my accomplishments for the year, my career plans, strengths and opportunities and a summary statement. All of this effects raises, promotions and bonus.
+ My wife is sick, my kids are confused, there are different people in my house every week... On and On and On”
我打算给他减一点房租（$50 to $100/month？？）。就他的情形来看，这也是杯水车薪。他的朋友们给建了个捐款的网站，我看了，目前只有几百块而已。我是landlord 新手，大家说说，我还能如何帮他？这是他的Blog，有兴趣的可以看看。http://emsdaddy.blogspot.com/2008/10/waiting.html
