New Roads to Travel

Apologies for not posting anything yesterday. I found myself needing 24 hours to compose my thoughts.

Yesterday my husband, Ed, was let go from his company after almost 20 years of service due to "economics." We were stunned. Yes, we knew cuts were coming, but we naively believed that service and past performance might be considered in this decision. After all, he was one of the top performing account managers in the firm revenue-wise . Unfortunately for Ed (and many others) that was not the case.

Job losses in Michigan are nothing new, but I guess you just never think it will happen to you, or at least when it does, you'd like to think that you might have had an inkling. But when it sneaks up on you like that, you literally feel like you have been punched in the stomach. You're in shock, all the wind gets knocked out of you and you feel defeated. But these are times unlike anything we personally have experienced.

So, much of yesterday was spent trying to get our bearings. The overwhelming support Ed has received from some of his friends, family, coworkers, customers, and even competitors has really touched him. Even though you know you were not a failure at your job, it's hard not to feel like a failure. It's hard not to feel humiliated, or dispensable, or like 20 years of blood, sweat, and tears was all for nothing. Gone, goodbye, not even a "thank you for your service." We've heard the stories from so many people who know people who have lost jobs. You're let go and then promptly ushered to the door like a shoplifter. You get to go back after hours and reclaim your personal effects and clean out your computer files, all while being closely monitored. You went from hero to zero in eight seconds. Yeah--congratulations on securing that multi-million purchase order. Goodbye!

So, we will take the prescribed "72 hours" of mourning that was communicated to us in the employee (or should I say former employee) packet of information. Seventy-two hours of shock, awe, disbelief, anger, humiliation, self-pity, and whatever else and then regroup and recover.

I kind of liken this experience to finding ourselves on a road that perhaps we had seen, read, heard about, or driven by so many times, but had actually never traveled down. And then, all of a sudden we somehow took a wrong turn and find we have up ended there and say to ourselves "so this is what's down this road."

We are remembering to keep everything in perspective. I can't help but think of John Travolta who has more job opportunities, money and power than one man could possibly need. I'm sure he would give it all up in a heartbeat to have his 16-year old son back. The loss of a job is devastating. Especially after 20 years. You have built relationships and formed friendships over a lifetime. Yesterday I felt like I had received news of a death in the family. But in reality, I had not. I am thankful that my children are healthy, that Ed and I are healthy and that the rest of my extended family is healthy.

I have no doubt that he (and I) will find jobs. I didn't say it would be easy, but I do have hope. After all, isn't that what 2009 is about? I do believe that things happen for a reason. I'm not sure what the reason is for this yet, but I'll let you know when we get to the end of the road.