You may not care anything about Jim Corcoran and how he ended up living in Superior Creek Lodge, an extended-stay hotel in Kennesaw.
You may not care one iota, especially, if you think the Lawrenceville City Council has shown prudence in considering the enforcement of a 45-day limit on how long a guest can stay in that town’s extended-stay businesses.
This space was devoted to the issue last week. The majority of the responders expressed outrage that town leaders would even weigh such an idea given the economic climate. Only two said otherwise.
Corcoran left me a voice message of thanks for broaching the topic and didn’t dwell on his own predicament. I called back, inquired, and learned that his life, like most, isn’t some neat, pretty package where right and wrong is black and white. Where it’s easy to identify the villains and saints, to point fingers and draw conclusions as to how he ended up in room No. 308.
Two years ago, the 58-year-old fell and shattered a kneecap. Months later, he was fired from his job as a district circulation manager for a local publication after a disagreement with his supervisor. Then he was diagnosed with a lung disease and now requires oxygen.
His unemployment compensation has dried up, so disability pay is the only income coming in. He doesn’t have a car because his wife got that in a divorce proceeding. As for insurance, forget about it.
“When I saw your article, it hit home because I don’t want to be here,” he told me. “To say someone can’t stay in a hotel but for 45 days is absolutely ludicrous.”
In a perfect world, Corcoran’s plight would compel with a tidy story line. He would have been laid off, happily married, a Ward Cleaver type with two tykes and a wife in pearls. But that’s exactly why we gravitate to shows like “Leave It To Beaver.” Life is simple and adheres to a script that ends with theme music and settled problems.
Still, Corcoran didn’t mind baring his soul. He wished he could take back that argument with his boss. Maybe he could have prevented that fall, enjoyed a better relationship with the few relatives who live in and around these parts and might lend a hand.
“I don’t want to be in the position that I am in, and my heart goes out to any man or woman who has worked in this country and is going through any loss of job, loss of home, loss of vehicle,” he said.
Then he issued a challenge to the critics who will undoubtedly pin blame on him: Be leery and question the tale of how Superior Creek Lodge became home.
“Come find me,” he said. “If someone wants to criticize me, who say go to a McDonald’s and find a job — it’s easier said than done. Anybody who wants to criticize needs to be careful.”
Remember, what goes around ...
Rick Badie, an Opinion columnist, is based in Gwinnett. Reach him at rbadie@ajc.com or 770-263-3875.
About the Author
