My husband lost his job last week…
…the job that was slowly killing him. He was on the road, commuting across state, eating fast food, sleeping in hotel rooms, missing time with his daughters, and stressed in such a way that I seriously feared heart attack.
And then I remember that a year ago yesterday, a woman in mint green scrubs locked my head into a helmet and slid me into a dark, magnetic tube for a brain MRI to check for MS — which I didn’t have. And later that night, I went to the ER because I was convinced the MRI had caused the white pain of a migraine that left me unable to function — it hadn’t. And for the next several months I was nearly bed-ridden because of horrific pain diagnosed as fibromyalgia, which I was told would never get better — it did.
So yeah — October 2009: Swine flu is everywhere. It’s been raining for the last ten days. My husband is unemployed. Our house continues to fall apart and maybe worst of all, I’ve gained 5 pounds.
But really, it’s all good.
Small Town. Small Times. 
It’s really all perspective, isn’t it? I wish you and your family the best.
Yeah, that perspective thing…I knew it, but now I really know it. Thanks for your wishes.
Atta girl!!
xoxo
Oh, yes. This is how I felt when my husband spontaneously quit his job last fall. I was panicked, but that job was destroying him. The rough finances we went through were worth it 100 times over in family sanity.
Sometimes, the best blessings are not the easiest.
I’m so glad that you are feeling better. I’ve been wondering about that.
Thank you — for everything in your comment.
Sounds like it’s good riddance to that job. :p My husband and I are recruiters (in sort of a specialized area, but maybe better than nothing?) so let me know if we can help!
I will and yes – cheers to the riddance.
You’re right: things always seem terrible . . . and then they’re over and it wasn’t so bad. That’s me and the dentist, every single time.
Good luck, and if I can do anything for you, let me know.
Ahh – the dentist, very good analogy for all things dreaded (sorry, dentists). Thanks for stopping by.
Sorry to hear this. We’ve had a rough year here, too. Health scares, though, put everything in perspective, don’t they? All the disposable income in the world isn’t worth a soul-sucking job.
I could get all deep and tell you that it’s a mixed blessing or when one door closes another one opens . . . but I won’t. Just know, I’ve been there and it will be okay! Hugs.
I really like what MomZombie said. “All the disposable income in the world isn’t worth a soul-sucking job.” Five years ago, my husband and I were living in Monterey. He was running a hotel, completely stressed out and totally miserable. We decided to move back to southern California and he became a bellman. It was the best year ever. For both of us.
I’m really happy that you’re able to see all the good through the bad. And I’m sorry about the five pounds. I’ve got the same problem. All this baking (and chocolate eating) has got to stop.
Close your eyes. Hold God’s hand. Ready? Jump!
I’m standing somewhere between feeling terribly sorry for you and the job loss and the weight gain–and amazement at your optimism. Lovely photos, great perspective.
Oh, honey.
I’ve had a nagging feeling all week about ignoring my feed reader (trying to be a little more attentive Mom and a little less online Mom) and this hurts my heart for you. I wish I had some fantastic insight to offer you that no one else had already offered. Instead I will echo most of them: the jobs that steal a tiny bit of one’s soul wreak more havoc than anything else I know. And not to sound all Pollyanna-y, but that whole “close a door, open a window” adage has always proven true for us. The best job I ever had, I only sent a resume for because I’d been laid off that afternoon (I later found out that the job posting actually ended the same day. If I had lost my job on Friday instead of Thursday, I’d never have known about one I ended up getting.)
Whew. That’s a bit to handle. I admire your spirit…and the way you look at things. I appreciate your gentle comments and questions with my blog issues and wish I could reciprocate.
I’m glad you’ve got people “thinking positive” for you…don’t care if it’s been proved or not, it helps! Hang in there…and think of the five pounds as settling in for the winter 🙂
This is my first time on your blog and I just had to stop and say I am so sorry you are dealing with all that. It’s good that you seem positive but, it is not easy dealing with a job loss or weight gain. What’s the saying? Hang in there, this too shall pass. 😉 Doesn’t seem to really cut it.