From Auto Exec To Paper Deliveryman
Grosse Pointe Woods is a serene, leafy suburb of Detroit. But the grass might not be as green as it looks.
Mike Remenar is losing his neighbors, CBS News correspondent Seth Doane reports.
"The house right there has been foreclosed upon, the one across the street," he said.
His wife, Ruth, is petrified that they might be next.
"I've actually had nightmares where I've woken up and gone 'Ahhh!' like that," she said.
Those bad dreams could very well turn into reality. Mike, a white-collar auto executive, was laid off almost a year ago.
"If Mike does not get a job as an automotive designer soon, I don't know what we're going to do," Ruth said.
Seventeen-year-old Michael, their oldest son, would sure like to help out - but can't.
"The thing is, a lot of adults are taking jobs that used to be filled by teenagers - because they can't find more professional work - so they're taking part-time $8-an-hour work," Michael said. "And kids just can't find work around here anymore."
And he should know - because his dad is delivering newspapers.
Seven days a week, at 2 a.m., Mike and Ruth wake up to stuff papers. They then zigzag through nearby neighborhoods.
It's the only job they could find - a paper route - and it doesn't pay much.
Do they consider themselves middle class?
"Not anymore," Ruth said. "We were."
What do they consider yourselves now?
"Lower class," Ruth said.
The Remenars used to love family vacations. But the closest they can get to one now is when they can book a ticket for someone else.
They turned their den into a travel agency to try to earn a little more.
"Nobody in Michigan is traveling right now!" Ruth said.
Mike says he's applied for jobs at every business and every store around. Kroger's didn't take him - but they do take food stamps he was forced into in January.
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"We can make the food stamps work," Mike said.
And without them, he said, "we'd be pretty hungry."
Using them is kind of embarrassing, Mike says, but it's worth putting food on the table.
"We should change our last name to The Worries," Ruth said. "I mean, because that's what we do best. I mean, he's worried about me, I'm worried about him, we're worried about the house, we're worried about the kids - we're worried about everything!"
Worried - about this September. With Michael hoping to go to college - and a lump payment that they don't have due on the house.
"All of my children but one were born here," Ruth said. "It's hard - it's just really hard."
Ruth says the paper route hours aren't so bad - because she really can't sleep anyway. For now, they're just hoping that some good news will be delivered to them someday soon.
If you'd like to contact the Remenars, you can find their information on their travel Web site.
