The CHERISHED Life of Heather Leigh

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Good Times

Every time I hear about someone getting laid off, I sing the Good Times theme song in my head. I can't help it.

Temporary lay offs. Good Times. (just this part)
Easy credit rip offs. Good Times.
Scratchin' and surviving. Good Times.
Hangin in a chow line Good Times.
Ain't we lucky we got 'em Good Times.

So, when Kevin was told on Wednesday that he would be laid off effective Friday, I sang this song in my head. (just that first part) And I couldn't believe I was singing it about us.

Not like a layoff is by any means shocking these days, and since he's been on the bench since October 1, we kind of expected it to happen sooner or later.

Turns out it was later than what the HR department had wanted, they wanted it to take effect on 12/30 but his direct manager got an extension hoping some work would materialize, (but it didn't).

It also turns out that it was sooner, considering the lay off took effect on Thursday (today) instead of Friday.

I had to give Nee Nee (our daycare lady, dear friend and the boys' second mom) a two week notice that our boys wouldn't be coming there any longer. (trickle down effect)

That phone call was really hard for me to make and I unexpectedly broke down in tears when I told her about our situation. She was the first person to whom I verbally delivered the news (I had already emailed a couple of people with no emotional melt down). But saying it out loud brought it into sharp reality.

We were feeling a bit down and out of sorts about the situation yesterday.

But today Kev found out he gets 4 weeks severance and nearly 3 weeks of vacation.

Good Times.

Then a former co-worker told him about a potential 6 month gig in the central US for which Kev would be a perfect fit, and he forwarded his resume.

Good Times.

Things were looking up.

Then I got this news from Nee Nee (our daycare lady, dear friend and the boys' second mom - in case you forgot).

She went to the local psychic here in town and whether or not you believe in that kind of stuff, you have to admit that the following exchange she had with the psychic was eerily coincidental.

Psychic - You work with children.
Nee Nee - Yes I do.
Psychic - What exactly do you do?
Nee Nee - You're the psychic! You tell me.
Psychic - It doesn't exactly work that way.
Nee Nee - I have a daycare.
Psychic - And "something big" recently happened there.
Nee Nee - Yes.
Psychic - Don't worry. The boy's father is very VERY good at what he does and he will find another job within the month. That little boy will be back in your care very soon.

Good. Times.

Ain't we lucky we got 'em?

2 comments:

Lori said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lori said...

I wish you and your family well Heather. I know exactly how you are feeling right now. My hubby is going to school while working part-time so we can get ahead after numerous layoffs that he had at his previous job. Its a HUGE transition for us and we remind each other EVERY day what our goal is so we can get through these tight times. Its scary as heck but, as you keep humming, we have to try and have "good times" during the process no matter what. Hope the psychic is right and who cares who believes in that stuff. People do whatever it takes to get through something tough and it is OKAY! Hang in there!