"So, you were downsized?" Those were the chirpy words from the woman who answered the phone at the Outplacement Service. My immediate thought: Downsized? What does that mean? No, I'm still the same size. Then I realized she was speaking in euphemisms. As if that made the reason for the call quite pleasant, like I'd achieved my weight-loss goal.
So, here it is. I've been laid off.
I was getting set to write this week's Blix, about how filthy airplanes are. Inspired by the mother who brought her lap child onto the plane and let him crawl all over the floor and dig in the seat pockets, I felt both a comment and a warning were in order. Then, suddenly, it just didn't seem to matter so much. Let the kid get germs.
If you saw "Up in the Air," you will recall that real people are included in the film, telling their stories of being laid off. They speak of the struggle to maintain both home and dignity. It was heartbreaking...and true. Your world turned upside down in a span of ten minutes. Just like the movie, my messenger arrived on a plane, neatly dressed, platitudes aplenty. I was called to a "meeting" in a neutral place and handed a folder. Good-bye, good-luck. The only difference was that the news wasn't delivered by a handsome George Clooney.
I debated about where to share this with my steadfast readers. Although these decisions are always financial, being laid off feels like a failure. A character flaw. Of course, friends and colleagues immediately expressed shock and sympathy, but we all know that a nano-second behind the "I'm so sorry!" is the unspoken "Thank god it wasn't me."
When I began Boomerblix, I promised to write about everything. In fact, at the top of the blog is my statement: Single Boomer describes life at 60-plus. There are milestones, adventures, and surprises still to be discovered by this brave solo woman... My situation definitely falls in the "adventure and surprise" category. Not the good kind, like "Woo-hoo! I've won Mega Millions!" or "Pack your bags! We're cruising around the world!" Rather, this is an adventure that falls in the category--and I'll toss in another euphemism here--of "opportunity." Statistics abound regarding the likelihood of anyone over 60 actually getting a decent job. Somewhere on the scale between dismal and impossible. Finding an employer who values wisdom and maturity has the chance of "a snowball in hell," as my late father used to say. I loved my job and won't find anything like it. If I'm to believe the stories, I'll be fortunate to get hired at all. Still. I will declare here and now that I will never be a Wal-Mart greeter.
Remember when you cheered me on when I tackled that month of online dating? How about we try it again with my job search? Surely there is humor to be found in the process. Not to mention a new view of humanity. Can I count on you?
After a good cry, I did what anyone in my situation would do. Why, I went to the Apple Store! I'll need a slick computer to keep you updated and to crank out dazzling resumes. I write today's Blix on my stunning MacBook Pro. Surely you can see the difference.
Life is about change. Things happen for a reason. Let's get started on the next chapter, shall we?
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