“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognize the opportunity.”
John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963), Speech in Indianapolis, April 12, 1959
The big bosses from out of town called my husband and wanted to take him out to lunch. He was the manager of a small computer store. He was excited and so was I.
We both thought they were going to promote him to a regional position.
They met for lunch and after a very nice meal they told him to go out and buy rolls of brown paper and cover the store windows. They were shutting down the store immediately. All stock and fixtures were to be shipped to a store in Kansas City.
He was blown away.
He called me at work. I was in shock. We had no savings. We were living month to month. We couldn’t live on my salary alone. We were going to lose our medical benefits, too.
He tried to get a job in similar stores around town. Nothing. He tried to get a tech job. Nothing.
It was Christmas and retail stores were looking for lots of people. In desperation he applied. He got a job.
My husband is a big man, 6′6″. They put him in a bright orange sports coat that had SECURITY embroidered on the front.
The store was having problems with thieves stealing high priced gloves that were positioned near an entrance. Some of them would grab handfuls and dash out the door, others would simply slip a pair or two into their bag or pocket and casually leave. Their losses on these gloves and other items close to the entrances were sky high.
My husband’s job was to just stand there. He couldn’t approach a customer, speak to a customer, or touch a customer. If he saw something he could call the regular security staff (in plain clothes) who were generally close by.
He was just a scarecrow. A visual threat.
He stood like this all day. The only perk was that he qualified for deep discounts on the merchandise.
He absolutely hated it. Demeaning, exhausting, and horribly boring he was desperate to find something else.
I don’t know how we made it through that time. But we did. Just day by day.
He took another job in computer sales. He had to travel. The owner of the company had a meeting every Monday morning. He screamed and threatened the entire staff.
My poor husband was sick every Sunday night anticipating the horrible morning to come. After he could bear it no more he quit, without having a job in hand.
But the fates were kind and he quickly found a job at the community college, where he as been for sixteen years. The crisis ended.
If you or a loved one has lost a job I invite you to check out the resources in The Debt Dance Emporium (on the right of your screen.) There are books on stress relief, what to do if you lose a job (and how to pay your bills), and how to find a new career. I highly recommend What Color is Your Parachute to help you discover what you really want to do. If you are in crisis do not give up hope. Every day the sun comes up and we have a fresh opportunity to live and love and enjoy!
NOW HERE’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE FUNNIES:’
Putting Your Affairs In Order.’
The woman was shocked, but managed to compose herself and walk into the waiting room where her daughter had been waiting.
‘Well daughter, we women celebrate when things are good, and we celebrate when things don’t
go so well. In this case, things aren’t well. I have cancer. Let’s head to the club and have a martini.’
After 3 or 4 martinis, the two were feeling a little less somber. There were some laughs and more martinis. They were eventually approached by some of the woman’s old friends, who were curious as to what the two were celebrating.
The woman told her friends they were drinking to her impending end. ‘I’ve been diagnosed with AIDS.’ The friends were aghast, gave the woman their condolences and beat a hasty retreat.
After the friends left, the woman’s daughter leaned over and whispered, ‘Momma, I thought you said you were dying of cancer, and you just told your Friends you were dying of AIDS! Why did you do that??’
‘Because I don’t want any of those bitches sleeping with your father after I’m gone.’
And THAT, my friends, is what is called, ‘Putting Your Affairs In
Order.’
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