One Year Later

Wow, how many days passed since my last posting?  Really??   I originally envisioned being able to post on my blog several times a week.  But then again, things rarely go as I plan them.   So anyway...

Last week was a big week for me.  No, nothing exploded in my dryer.   Though one of these days, don't be surprised.   Thursday of last week was July 21st.  One of those dates now for me that is burned in my memory of big events... like my wedding anniversary, or my kids birthdays, or the day my Dad died.  I guess it was kinda like a death in one way, but a rebirth in another.  Thursday was the one year anniversary of the day I was laid off from my old job after 20 years of service.   At the time I was devastated.  After all it wasn't what I had planned.  It didn't fit in with my schedule, or budget for that matter either.  It was beyond my control.  I felt the rug jerked out from beneath me!  Oh, what a difference a year makes.

Last Thursday evening I got together with four previous co-workers (who were also caught up in the same layoff) to celebrate.   That's right, CELEBRATE!   One year ago, after spending an emotional morning of goodbyes and turning in our keys and ID's, the four of us went to lunch and leaned on each other.   Then last Thursday evening we met again for what turned into 4 hours of laughing till we cried and catching up.  Our worlds looked very different.  A total 180 degree change.   It turns out the layoff was a springboard to better things for each one of us, better than we ever could have imagined in all the uncertainty a year ago.  

I do miss the people at my old job but fortunately I still keep up with many of them outside of work and now David happens to work at the facility I spent the most time at and keeps me updated.  Though honestly we are both absolutely terrible with names and faces, so put that together and it makes for some interesting conversations....

David:  This lady at work told me to tell you hello.

Me:  Cool.  Who was it?  (There are only about 200 women employees there???)

David:  Uh, not sure.  Don't know her name.  She had dark hair.  And glasses.  I think.   I'm not sure.

...And then starts the one hundred and twenty questions back and forth until I think I might almost, maybe, perhaps know who he is talking about.... 

Me:  Oh, that's nice.  Please tell her hello for me too.

David:  Okay, will do.   (With a blank, puzzled look... Yeah, I know he's thinking there is no way he's going to remember who it was if he sees her again.  LOL)

I was blessed to work with some wonderful people who became like a second family to me and I'll carry those memories forever.  And no matter how hard I may try to shake them, I'll also carry some quite spectacularly bizarre memories of patients and events in my time there.  Believe me, when you work in prison healthcare for 20 years including 3 years with a concentrated transvestite population and over 10 years in a prison psychiatric hospital, you have some pretty interesting stories! 

We laughed about getting to enjoy the little "luxuries" in our new jobs that we couldn't before.  Like carrying a purse, a cell phone, and no daily patdown searches.  "I have SCISSORS out on my desk!", we laughed.  It's a whole nother experience out here in the "free world". 

God knew what I needed and had good things in store for me.  Just a few weeks after being laid off I found my current job which I absolutely LOVE, making more money, treated with more respect, and doing work I really feel makes a difference.  The funny thing about my old job (and I actually said this during my job interview even though I told them I knew I probably shouldn't) was that even though I was extremely proud of the great work my group did at UTMB,  I was almost ashamed to be proud of it.  After all, who wants to hear about how we give those prisoners such great healthcare when someone's Grandma can't even afford her medicine.  Also, it's an odd feeling to be part of a team treating a suicidal death row inmate, going to great pains to keep him alive long enough to meet his execution date. 


Now, working for M.D. Anderson, I get to see miracles happen to the nicest people every day.  It's truly a remarkable and inspiring place to work and I know my work makes a difference!  That alone is worth more than a paycheck.  Though of course my creditors do appreciate that I get paid also.  HEB doesn't accept "warm and fuzzy" at the checkout counter and I've had zero luck trying to grow a money tree.

My Office

(Pic taken last Fall, I seriously don't have a pumpkin in my office at the moment.)

Every difficulty in life teaches you things.  Having this layoff and uncertainty on the heels of our construction business going under the year before has taught me volumes.  In fact, I ought to have a PhD in "creative finance" by now.  Ha!  Seriously, more than anything it's taught me to trust God and be grateful for the blessings he's given to see us through...  Just enough of whatever I needed to get to the next step.  Just the right timing for things to fall into place.  Just the right kind word when I needed it most.  Just the best kids and family anyone could hope for.  Just the very best friends and encouragers anywhere.  Just a couple extra special friends who helped me when I needed it most (and was too proud to admit it).  Just a bigger sense of gratitude.  Just a bigger measure of trust for whatever tomorrow brings...

And just the best, most fascinating, no I'm not kidding - this really happened, 20 years of work stories ever...    =)