omega

I got laid off at 2:00 pm MT today. On February 20 I'll be driving home to St. John's, Newfoundland. Yup, it the middle of winter. Awesome. Despite everything, I'm a complete mess because I'm never going to see my friends again. It's my childhood all over again when I always had to leave my friends every few years. The downturn in the economy has ended the life I made for myself almost 3 years ago.

I have to start over. Alone.

Comments

[Kokoro]

Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos. ~Charles M. Schulz

[TexXx]

I'm so sorry Sonja. Sorry about not posting for a while and sorry about the circumstances that brought about your layoff. Take some solace in the fact that you're not alone. I was laid off on December 31, 2008 over the phone while I was out and about taking care of a few errands. Our office was closed for the holiday season and my boss called me on my cell to inform me that they did all they could to keep me and two other employees with the company, but the money wasn't in payroll and we got sacked.

No severance pay. Lost our health insurance, and I lost all respect for my boss who didn't have the cahjones to let me go face-to-face. I'm past that initial stage of anger...no, pure rage now, and in the process of networking, sending in my resume and applying to whatever engineering/drafting job I can find. I'm thankful for unemployment checks and a solid support group, but some days you wonder if you'll ever find occupational meaning again. It's a struggle, and one many folks are going through right now, so take a few days to wail, gnash your teeth and get the anger out. I suggest crank up "Fucking Hostile" from Pantera...or any music on your IPod that allows you to get a primal scream out. Have your emotional meltdown. Don't hold it in or it will just wear your spirits down. As soon as you've moved past the freak-out/pissed off stage, then move toward updating your resume and start the job hunt. You're talented and I'm confident that you will find something soon, but make sure it is something you enjoy doing and that you'll be passionate about.

I'm sorry that you're losing your work "family". Layoffs hit us in our emotional core, especially when you have been in the trenches with these people for so long, but people come and go in your life and I hope they have enriched your life and that you'll stay in contact with them.

If you need to vent or talk about any of this, drop me an e-mail or I can e-mail you. Whatever works best for you. :)

TexXx

[Sonja]

I'm sorry TexXx :'( It's really hard to type this because I'm very sad so silence in any medium makes it easier to cope-- for now. My bosses didn't tell me I was laid off. I had emailed the flight coordinator about arranging a flight from St. John's to Firebag. He's a nice man and didn't have the heart to lie to me. I confronted my boss and after some lying and theatrics he finally gave me my pink slip.

I hope you and the Mrs. are doing well despite everything. You may be braver than I but I'm a nervous wreck and very scared. I'm scared about driving 7000 km to Newfoundland in the winter. I'm scared that when I do find another job, it won't be enough money so I'll be plagued with debt. Most of all I'm profoundly sad that I'm losing my friends and may not make enough money to fly home to see my family for a very long time.

wow, you're right. I need some ipod therapy. It's good advice-- thank-you.