It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine. Greg was laid off yesterday. I suppose we should be sad, but we saw it coming for quite some time. Plus, it’s cool to be out of work these days, and we never get to be cool. In all honesty, though, we Dave Ramsey’d before Dave Ramsey was hip, so we started preparing for this possibility before I quit working. That being said, nobody wants to be out of work right now. Phrases given to us from friends out of work include, “bloodbath”, “hopeless”….cheery, upbeat messages.
We cracked a couple of beers last night, started laughing our way through our TiVo’d shows (Oh 30 Rock, you witty, unexpected people), and kept forgetting that we were supposed to be sad. I thought of a lesson from nursing school: a 5 year old crying over a lost teddy bear is feeling the same grief as an elderly woman who lost her husband. It’s perspective. To the 5 year old, losing the bear is the worst grief he has ever known, hence equal to the elderly wife’s grief, also the worst grief she’s ever known. I’ve known a few things worse than losing a job, putting the job loss into a different perspective than someone who has lived a different story. Then I thought of my Dad’s face the day he walked through the door, after his last day at a job he’d had for 20+ years (the beginning of the end in US Manufacturing). He had his belongings in his hands (as did hundreds of men in our town that day), and I remember the screen door slamming as Dad said to me, “If this is the worst thing we’ve ever known, we’ve known no tragedy.” He was right. He was really, really, really right.
Maybe I’ll have a different perspective next week. Maybe in a month, I’ll be singing a different tune. But I’m not going to feel bad, just because I’m supposed to. Life will move forward whether I cry or celebrate. Besides, anticipating change is always harder than change itself. Now we can move towards whatever our next chapter is meant to be. I’ve been anxiously awaiting that chapter to begin, so strap on the seatbelts friends….HERE WE GO!!!!
13 responses to “It’s the End of the World As We Know It, And I Feel Fine”
Our house has been work free for almost a year, and life goes on, you learn to downsize, you learn to be more conscious of your wants vs needs and mostly you learn more about yourselves.
God is Good and he does provide!
Blessings to You & Yours
Thank you so much Mrs. Sharp. Godspeed to your family as well,
Lori
Mrs Sharp is right. Jon got laid off at the end of February and we cut back and learned what we could live without. It’s tough, but now we don’t miss what we had before and we are still alive and kicking!
OK, so now its done. There are always different stages when you loose a job. There is a grieving period (even if it is a job you didn’t like) but, you do get through it. That is natural. Then you get a second wind and dig in starting to find a new job. Your man is smart, savvy and a go getter he will find something or he will invent a new company. We love you Mom
Lori,
Like I said on my e-mail, I do believe everything happens for a reason. And I am so sure he will be ready for a new beginning, whenever that is!
Meanwhile, you guys will continue as the united, beautiful family you are…and we are here for you, always.
Love you!
Ana Paula
Ok, my Evita-quoting friend, here’s one for you today – very apropro…..”When God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window.” Can you name it? Anyway, I wish I could be sorry, but I’m not. When I lost my last job, I decided to go back to school, and I am so deliriously happy every minute of my journal-obsessed, sleep-deprived life. My wish for you guys is that this is not an loss and an end, but an opportunity and a beginning.
XOXO Lyd
Lydia,
Were you quoting Jesus Christ Superstar or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat? I support any choices he makes, except maybe moving into middle of nowhere Pennsylvania and getting a PhD. That’s only for truly gutsy girls full of moxie! Girl, you’ve got balls and brains, that’s for sure.
XOXOXO back at ya’,
Lori
Maria, from Sound of Music, but good guesses. Well, look at it this way. You said one of your best memories of your childhood was when your dad was on strike and could hang out with you. So, now Greg gets to join the Summer of Fun. Better order another T-shirt! 🙂
Employers should be knocking down your door for Greg. He is great! Hang in there.
Well from this side of the table, you are correct. It is UGLY out in the “world” right now. Trust me I have looked. But inside our world with Bryce and I, we are having a blast!
Wishing for a Great summer of fun for you all!
Keri and Bryce
It’s a big night here under the Big Top – it’s Economic Smack Down 2009 and you’ve just received front row seats! It’s history in the making and you can proudly say “We were there!”
Bring out the popcorn (cause it’s cheap) and make your own beer (if you can make almond crusted chicken you can make beer.) It’s going to be a a crazy show! Plus, you can make cornbread – so it’s all good. Aunt Jenny
I had NO idea there would be cornbread at the Economic Smackdown. That changes everything. I’m rationing what beers I have left, along with my case of 3 Buck Chuck.
Just to herald in the new “era”, the girls skipped naps. YES! Goin’ to be needing a lot of cornbread tonight!
Lori
I was going to give my condolences and wish you well, but after reading your oh-so-eloquent blog I don’t think you need it. Anyhow, we have been there and not been prepared so you all are a leg up. You four will be just fine, we are thinkin’ about ya’ and hope everyone is doing well. Todd would never forgive me if I didn’t say….”Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom”-Gen. Patton