Housekeeping

So yes, I got laid off. We are okay. There are no hard feelings towards my company. I understand the business decision and I had a sense it was coming. When my husband and I went to the company holiday party back in December it felt a bit like an episode of "This Is Your Life". I started working there when I was twenty-six. The first holiday party I went to was at the Claremont Hotel in the Oakland hills. Grand. I was shy about who to sit with, who to hang out with. Seeing the head honchos out on the dance floor with their spouses made me smile. I loved my job. Over the years I attended many holiday parties. Planned some. Sometimes I was the young, wild, drunk coordinator dancing with my peeps to all the Top 40 hits. Other times I was a manager, not knowing quite how to mingle and making sure not to drink too much. There were many phases in between. Some years there was no party. December 2014 was a great party. Casino tables, food trucks, great music. People were laughing and having a blast. I had fun, learning to shoot craps with my husband and some work colleagues. One of whom I hired, one of whom I trained who is now a supervisor. I smiled, hugged, waved, ate, laughed. Watched. I didn't feel on the outside but I felt on the outskirts. That wasn't my main place anymore. Home with my kids is my main place. By choice.

Almost a third of my life was spent within the walls--physical, emotional and mental--of that place. I love what we do. What they do. I don't think I am done forever but who knows? Time will tell. There is more to write and more to think about.

We are not losing our babysitter totally or forever. That is not possible. She is in our hearts and we are in hers. We are a net for one another and that is not going away. Just changing. Stay tuned.