Rejoining the Ranks of the Employed

Yesterday marked the end of my first week of gainful, full-time employment. Yeah! I didn't want to post about it before the possibility became a reality, but one week is real enough.

Just before Christmas, saw an ad for an instructional designer with a company for which I'd formerly worked in the late 80s, at which I'd been happy and successful. Having zero trust in the conventional hiring system at this point, took the bull by the horns and called a guy I'd previously worked with who was still there. He couldn't have been more helpful, forwarded my resume and talked me up to the hiring manager.

I had two interviews, received a very nice offer two days later, and started a week after that. So far, I'm very happy, not just to be working again and getting a regular paycheck, but oddly, feel like I've returned home. You'd think I'd experience some nervousness and apprehension but that hasn't happened and I don't expect that it will. Perhaps it's an outcome of a good fit. I don't know and don't really care.

I've noticed a decided difference between my perspective and that of my co-workers, many of whom seem to get their panties in a bunch over things I consider trivial. That, I'm sure, is a consequence of knowing what it's like to have no job and no income, at all. I don't say anything as they'd likely neither appreciate nor understand my amusement over their hand-wringing. This result alone may prove worth the year of awfulness I've gone through. I doubt I'd be able to maintain the priorities I have, had I not experienced being so down and out.

On another note, tonight I will have my first "date" in years. I'm going out for a celebratory dinner (my new job and birthday which is Monday, Jan. 19) with a fellow I met online via http://www.craigslist.org (free) several months ago. The weather report is for the dreaded "wintery mix," so we may end up having to postpone, but no biggie. We really want to meet and so we shall.

So, gang, things are certainly looking up in my little corner of the planet. This new year has gotten off to a very nice start!

Comments

[Donna]

I hope things are still going well for you and your furkiddies.

[Dan]

Hey, Fontaine!

Just checking in. How's the job going?

--d

[Donna]

fabulous!!

[Mike]

Yes!

I hope everything goes well ;)