March 20, 2009

The shoe has dropped

Originally published November 18, 2003

I suppose that it's okay to announce it now (Bejus knows I've had enough questions lately).

I am officially "terminated" from my job now.

I received a phone call from the Personnel Dircetor today (head of "Human Resources") and I was told that my role in that plant is finished. My job was eliminated. I am gone. They are giving me a nice package and I am grateful for that, because they could have dropped me like a hot rock and caused us both a whole lot of grief while lawyers sorted things out.

My blog started the problem. I knew the job was dangerous when I took it, and I was not surprised when the hammer came down on me. I was bearding the lion again, and that's gotten me in trouble before.

But... that's the way I am.

I spent 24 years of my life in that plant and I am happy that I can walk away knowing that I did a good job for them. They are being fair with me and that's all I can ask. I have no hard feelings. I WANTED OUT, whether I knew it or not at the time.

Before the phone conversation was over, I was asked "Do you have any questions?" I said, yes, I did. I wanted to talk to my ex-boss. He came on the line.

"How is the plant running?" I asked.

"It's doing well, Rob. We set a record for production last month," he replied.

"HOT DOG!" I said. "Just keep it between the ditches, boss."

Okay, that's it. I left a lot of blood, sweat and tears all over that place, but that part of my life is over. I still care, because I always did. But I am ready for something else now.

Bejus! Little did I know that when Jennifer handed me her phone number on the river-dock that day that it all would lead to this.

But... it did. Life is like that sometimes.