When Obama got the vote and Stevie Wonder came on, I said, "Man, they couldn't have picked a better song. Who's d.j.ing this thing?" I've been without tv for months, haven't listened to much radio, just reading my news mostly. Maybe that's the reason I missed the fact this song was already tied into Obama's campaign long before election night. Anyway, good choice.
Speaking of signing, sealing and delivering, I got laid off from my job last month, just after making my first mortgage payment. I was disappointed, but I can't say I was surprised. Business is slow, and not just with my employer. I think everybody's feeling it, though during my exit interview, the HR partner gave an encouraging speech about how he didn't believe things were as bad as everyone was saying about the economy and how he was relieved I felt like the office environment there was fun, because that was really important to him. This, as I sat across from him jobless, staring with what I hope was minimal contempt showing in my face.
I took it really well. People, if you ever need to lay someone off and want to feel as guilt-free as possible, I'm your girl. I've got my mother's southern charm and manners wired in, and I was quick to offer understanding and sympathy. It's not exactly their fault I have to be let go, though I was a little offended I was canned before the free lunch program was, but hey, people gotta eat, right? I was handling things just fine, even when I had to break the news to B as he picked me up from work, and I came out of the building carrying a box and a lamp. He was all, "Ok, we're gonna deal with this" mode, as was I. Until I got home and saw my wayward, aging animals and our new house, the first real home we've had that's ours and only ours, and I suddenly realized that everything I ever wanted was right there in front of me and it was entirely possible that I could lose all of it. So I wept, while B held me and stroked my hair and reassured me that we would not lose the house and we would find a way through this together. Then he poured me a bourbon, I washed my face, and we headed to the bar to watch the presidential debate with friends, where more drinks were poured for me and there was a lot of bird-flipping and foul language that came from my direction when the white guy with all the houses was talking. If you weren't rooting for my team, you probably would have been very annoyed.
Two weeks almost to the day from my "5 o'clock special meeting," B got laid off from his job. We weren't so much surprised it happened as we were by the timing. We spent a few afternoons in bed and evenings in bars till the shock wore off. Luckily, we have an excellent sense of humor and pretty similar interests. We have embraced what the gluttony of corporate America has lead our economy to give us, and we are using the time as an opportunity to work on things we really care about but don't get paid for. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared, but I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't excited about the possibilities.
No comments:
Post a Comment