I am in the 54th year of a life which could be considered generally average with interesting moments. I am neither rich nor poor, brilliant or stupid, exceedingly fast nor annoyingly slow, and I'm certainly not a professed sinner nor am I an aspiring saint. I am hopelessly middle class and just trying to figure out my way, which seems to be more and more an elusive quest.
Since separating from the United States Military in 1974, I have been steadily employed in the financial services industry (it used to be called banking) and for the last nearly 24 years I have worked for a major money center bank, first in New York and then in Tampa, Florida. Over all these years I have successfully weathered the downsizings, the upsizings, the spin-offs, the mergers, the acquisitions, the Joint Ventures and the politics in all its various forms and disguises. However 2005 was to become the year that I would finally be caught up in the changinging tide and swept ashore.
I am now unemployed for the first time since I was 14 years old (I'm counting my paper route and stint as a dishwasher in an italian restaurant as gainful employment). 15 0r 20 dollars a week in 1964 made me a king on my block. I always liked the feeling of independence that my own money gave me. I never really anticipated finding myself in an unemployed situation. It is a little frightening at the very same time that it is kind of a rush. I'm not sure what my thoughts are, however they are at present somewhat disorganized, fast and furious and the fodder for this blog. My objective here is simply to capture my thoughts as I journey from predictable stability to the day to day uncertainty of unemployment and a new career search.
To anybody who might read these ramblings, i would be indebted to you for your honest comments, pro or con. I am not thin skinned and I do love open and honest communication which is the primary reason I so dislike the concept of "political correctness" as observed and practised in the USA. This however is another topic for another time. I'm off to do some job research and then paint and fix up a back bedroom that I will use as a home office.
Slán...
Since separating from the United States Military in 1974, I have been steadily employed in the financial services industry (it used to be called banking) and for the last nearly 24 years I have worked for a major money center bank, first in New York and then in Tampa, Florida. Over all these years I have successfully weathered the downsizings, the upsizings, the spin-offs, the mergers, the acquisitions, the Joint Ventures and the politics in all its various forms and disguises. However 2005 was to become the year that I would finally be caught up in the changinging tide and swept ashore.
I am now unemployed for the first time since I was 14 years old (I'm counting my paper route and stint as a dishwasher in an italian restaurant as gainful employment). 15 0r 20 dollars a week in 1964 made me a king on my block. I always liked the feeling of independence that my own money gave me. I never really anticipated finding myself in an unemployed situation. It is a little frightening at the very same time that it is kind of a rush. I'm not sure what my thoughts are, however they are at present somewhat disorganized, fast and furious and the fodder for this blog. My objective here is simply to capture my thoughts as I journey from predictable stability to the day to day uncertainty of unemployment and a new career search.
To anybody who might read these ramblings, i would be indebted to you for your honest comments, pro or con. I am not thin skinned and I do love open and honest communication which is the primary reason I so dislike the concept of "political correctness" as observed and practised in the USA. This however is another topic for another time. I'm off to do some job research and then paint and fix up a back bedroom that I will use as a home office.
Slán...
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