Couple Seeking Help To Own a Money-Making Bakery Again
by Susan Gallahan
We have been farmers since before the civil war. During the years 1980 and 1981, my husband planted over 1,000 peach, apple, cherry and nectarine trees. We also had a successful pumpkin patch where over 50,000 people would come and enjoy a hay ride, see the stuffed scarecrows and get a pumpkin. Over the years my husband and I had a successful bakery business with me quitting my full-time job in 1992 as a Property Manager and devoting all my efforts to the business. It was profitable. We put our kids through private school and took trips, cruises and other. In 1999, I was diagnosed with MS. At first, it wasn’t so bad; I took medicine to help with the pain in legs and balance. In 2001, my husband needed an aortic heart valve replacement. I kept the bakery going during his recuperating time. In 2005, my father-in-law and brother-in-law decided to sell the farm. They were both making six figures, but said they were living year to year (who isn’t?). My brother-in-law said since my husband would not help farm, he wanted to sell. By the way, my brother-in-law's wife left him because of his drinking. I did not approve of my husband drinking and almost left, but I understood it. My husband opposed, but no changing minds. He even went to a physician who put him on depression medicine and advised him to get a lawyer. One part of the road was sold and as of this November 15, no bites. My father-in-law and brother-in-law decided to buy a piece of land to raise strawberries. Can you believe this? We were forced to sell the bakery to another local farmer because we were told that the land would sell fast. Builders were buying land left and right. Then all of a sudden the market crashed. At this point, a rich family member is supporting my father-in-law and brother-in-law. We are not included because we are not in the loop of selling the farm. My husband started working for the new owner. What a disaster. She knew nothing about running a bakery, but thought she did. Everything was a product. Prices went through the roof. My husband started drinking. She also was very dirty, but did not get inspected because a family member is in politics. When we had our business the health department came down on us hard because of violations, but let us stay open because I was clean. Anyway, the drinking got out of hand and my husband couldn’t take anymore and quit. Once he quit the job, he stopped drinking. I took over his job, but received $5 less an hour. I worked on the job for a year. A customer came in and offered me a job paying $5 more an hour. I took it. I couldn’t stand the filth either and the fact that the owner told me you have to train the customers. I thought that I could handle the pain but, unfortunately, I cannot. The owner of my work just called and has work after 18 days, but I can’t handle the pain. I have applied for over 100 office jobs, but not one response. My husband has applied and gone on interviews which looked promising, but not hired. My father-in-law has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer (meaning everywhere). My brother-in-law doesn’t drive, so my husband has been taking him to chemo and doctors. I don’t know what to do. I have been in foreclosure proceedings once. I sold a piece of property and was able to pay my bills for several months, but now I am in the same shape. I cannot afford the monthly mortgage payment of $1,700. I have been able to pay all the other bills for this month, but only half the electric bill; I still owe $175. I don’t know what to do. I haven’t even thought of next month where my bills equal over $5,000 a month. Please help!! My house is up for sale at a price that will pay the mortgage and other bills, but we've had no bites so far. What I really want most of all is to realize our dream of owning our own bakery in Tennessee so we can make money the way we used to and pay our bills.
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