For those of you who have read my previous articles in the Hickory Daily Record, (thank you Sunday School ladies, mom and dad, and my daughters, Sallie Ann and Lauren), you have read “My life is “Stranger than Fiction.”
In this article, I explained how a chain of exasperating events led me to read a message on a tire cover – a message I needed to remind me of the important stuff. The message read “Life is good.”
The past few weeks I haven’t felt like life is good. Since my job was “eliminated”, nice word for laid off, I have experienced shock, anger, denial, grief and finally acceptance not to mention gaining five pounds. (Word to the wise – don’t eat the whole German chocolate cake you bought for your daughter’s German food day, don’t let said daughter talk you into buying two packages of Keebler Double Chocolate Chip cookies and don’t let said daughter’s dad talk you into buying Girl Scout Cookies. Not only will daughter and dad walk around the house asking, “Where are the cookies and cake?” You will have to lie and blame it on Maggie the Dog. Poor Maggie.)
Now that I am coming out of the shock and sugar fog, I have been able to look at my situation in a different light. There have been several events that, although at this moment don’t seem to be connected, I am pretty sure there is a method to the madness.
During my “Elimi-cation”, how about that word, Mr. Bush?, I have fixed the light above my stove that has been broken since 2006 now i have to clean the stove. I have experimented with fusing glass in my kiln, definitely need a glass kiln. I stripped 43 years of paint from my childhood bookshelf staining, adding casters and using in the kitchen. I read a book, “At Risk” by Patricia Cornwell, one of my favorite authors, waiting on “Scarpetta” to come out in paperback. And the clincher, I made $7.53 doing laundry, going into the “Elimi-cation” fund – Savannah, here we come..
Along with all of the busy stuff, I have received many e-mails and phone calls of support from my friends at the paper. I miss you guys. I want to thank everyone for all the supportive thoughts. I want to thank my family for reminding me why I love them dearly every day. I want to thank the higher ups who responded to my e-mail, especially Reid Ashe who took the time to explain why I am on “Elimi-cation” and that it isn’t personal. And finally, I want to thank Bruce Simons who added a comment to the “To be sad or not to be sad” post. It is nice to know I am not alone and dude, smashing glass – to be used in fusing glass – is a great stress reliever.
So, in conclusion, I will continue to post my blog and I will be sure to let you know how the “Elimi-cation” is going. Hopefully, I will connect the dots soon. Now I think Maggie the Dog needs some red toe nails.
Are you looking for the answer in exasperating events or are you on an “Elimi-cation?” I want to know. Post a comment to this blog below or e-mail me at mjzdesigns@yahoo.com.
I’m glad you’re being productive but then, that’s one of your hallmarks so it comes as no surprise.
I hope you continue to create and stay positive. I’ll miss working with you, Mel.