"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize."--Voltaire
I was
thinking about all those Christmas brag letters tucked inside Christmas cards
that begin to flood the mailbox this festive season. I never had the desire to
do one and mail out to people, but on the other hand, I never really minded
reading about the happenings of those I care about. Bits and pieces of their
lives that can surprise and enlighten are to be found in the words they contain.
Tucked into them are messages they are trying to express: such as happiness, loss,
joy, pride.So following (if interested) is my 2013:
January 1st, employed with 401K, health insurance and good job. January 2nd, unemployed minus all that other stuff previously mentioned (see quote above by Voltaire). No murder committed despite this occurrence. Begin the stages of grief over this loss, also begin job hunt. Job hunt reveals experience seems to mean little compared to not finishing that Bachelors Degree in the 80’s. “Too old to Rock and roll, too young to die” to quote a Jethro Tull song from my youth. Look into degree completion opportunities at local universities. Damn…found out that college classes expire after three decades and don’t easily transfer. Still working through those stages of grief. Actually stuck on #1: anger. Sign up for group to help me deal with these issues. Especially issue #1. Start sociology class in college. Remain grateful to my friends and family who are standing by me and offer support. Seriously good medicine is true friendship. Interview for jobs…keep coming in second. Try a $10 per hour job to kill time and realize I have no tolerance for "fill in the blank here." Especially when they are your boss. Especially at $10 an hour. Didn't I learn this already? Gain new appreciation of those workers making minimum wage. Learn how underrated sleep is and how badly I want to sleep well again. Don't sleep at all some nights. Generic sleeping pills are a blessed thing. Love my college class and begin to feel hopeful. Grateful that my wife is awesome and understands. Continue to get up and get dressed every morning even when I don’t have a reason. Group therapy is going well. Learn from a psychologist about people with personality disorders. Realization: That it is what was wrong with them and it wasn’t me after all. Wife reminds me that she has been telling me that all along. Wise wife! Must learn to stop blaming myself. Sign up for more college classes, including psychology, as I need more information. Get an opportunity to do some freelance work and I love it. Get to see western Iowa, Illinois, and eastern Pennsylvania. Meet outstanding people that I can count as friends. Learn a new computer program and keep exercising my old brain. Starting to relax about nine months into this. Discover there is nothing affordable about the Affordable Care Act. What can you do? 10 ½ months in, I get a call for a job if I want it. Hell yes. Can still do the freelance work and still attend my college and work for people that are AWESOME and NOT CRAZY!
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| Madi and Me |
And I didn’t
forget the best news, I just saved it for last.
Madilynn Paige. Granddaughter. Born November 30th.
What a great year of discovery it has been.
Madilynn Paige. Granddaughter. Born November 30th.
What a great year of discovery it has been.
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