10 November 2009

The Layoff Chronicles

Conference call self portrait

Yesterday we got to the stage of mourning called "Anger." I knew it would happen, I just wasn't sure when.

I awoke with a snap at 3 a.m., mad.

Mad that we had been laid off without Some People having a shred of understanding of what we do and why we are needed to keep doing it.

Mad that some people I thought were less capable had been spared when good people had been lost. Mad that we got let go at the worst time of the year to find a job.

Then when I went into the office, I found that it wasn't just me. Everyone had been hit by the Big Angry Bus at the same time.

There were a lot of IMs and "WTF?" and arm-waving. There were "I just don't understand why...." conversations. Fortunately none of it was directed at each other. We have Higher Forces to blame, generally.

Finally about 10 a.m., I realized what was going on and said "Oh, I see we are in the anger phase!" That somehow made me feel better. This, too, would pass.

The day ended with my church board buying me butternut squash ravioli and a big glass of syrah for dinner, and sitting around a big table talking and laughing, and if that won't take the edge off your anger, I don't know what will.

And now for your Moment of Inspiration. Even without the song, watching Astaire "fall" so beautifully would cheer me up.

7 comments:

LittlePea said...

Mad can be good. Ravioli picks me up too.....

Stillie said...

I can imagine that the anger would linger for quite some time. Hell, I'M angry for you.

Anonymous said...

That's a cute clip!

Suzanne said...

Your anger is so justifiable. I hope that the interesting work that you described in the prior post keeps coming your way. I love the headset picture, by the way!

flutter said...

you are so allowed to be mad

German Shepherd Mom said...

My last day was a couple of weeks ago (we got two weeks notice with our layoff), and I've been so touched by how angry my former coworkers were (and still are) on my behalf. Of course, I know some of them are angry because now they have to do their job without all the support I provided, but still...

J said...

A similar group were laid off at my job back in February. The worker bees. By those who didn't know what we did, or that no one else there knew what or how to do what we did.

Quite a few of us were hired back about 4 or 5 months later. Hang in there. If you want to go back, I hope you can. If you don't, I hope for something better to come along quickly.

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