Ten Years Ago Today I Went To Work For The Last Time

Seems like only a decade ago that I woke at my usual time that Thursday morning. Packed my bag and rode my bike downtown just as I’d done for months before.

It was a nice spring day as I recall and only needed a light jacket. Locked up to the rack in the parking lot, walked through the lobby flashing my badge to the security guard and preceded to the basement for a shower, shave and a change into work clothing. Seemingly, another normal day.

Since I’d been demoted from a management position I had no plans or agendas or reports or meetings but just to do what I was told. There had been some buzz in the air but until a salesman came by and told me that another one had been walked out the door did it seem This Was The Day. I told another to keep his head down, then got the call.

After making the joke to the HR folks that they should have done this the day before, I was escorted out the door and it was done. My job had been eliminated.

The ride home was uncomfortable in work clothing carrying a big book of explanations and policy descriptions of what had just happened. The best part was a sheet of paper I was to sign to release any legal complications of being fired (er, laid-off) to become able to receive my pension. Otherwise I would be like the union strikers I’d walked through pickets line when I was hired.

It was over.

A call to set up an appointment to pick up my stuff from the locker in the basement and a bunch of pens and pencils and papers then handing my signed agreement to “Say Goodbye” to 38 years and walked out into the rain, never to return.

It wasn’t a bad gig. I walked in and was hired within minutes even before graduating university. Started part-time and worked my way up. Never got rich but they paid me enough. Got titles and awards for just making other people money. Worked for several bosses and in three different building. Started on drawing boards and finished on computers. Met a lot of interesting people and a bunch that I quickly forgot. I got married and divorced then met my second wife at work. Had some good times and some bad times, but it was all over. The best surprise was the reduction of stress. Not so much of the employment requirements but the political poisonous atmosphere that accompanied a sinking corporation.

Not quite retirement age, juggling finances and searching for medical insurance being unemployed were a different world. I had to decide to start all over again or just throw in the towel.

In the years that have followed many changes took place.

The newspaper is still there. While the old family legacy is gone, a guy who likes to play with newspapers bought it. I stopped subscription because there was just nothing written than was worth reading.

Today I even check the website to get the highlights but more and more the stories are censored to those who don’t subscribe.