Today was a tough day. I referred to my situation with my job in a previous article titled "Throwing Off the Clutter" The economy has really trashed the building and building products industry and things still seem pretty slim to me still. Our business group was effectively eliminated back in November of last year and individual “right sizing” dates were given for each employee. In my facility there were three of us still hanging on although our futures were finite. Today was the day for two thirds of us.
Our little group of three was reduced to one today. I’m the last man “standing.” There is nothing like shaking the hands of colleagues who have become good friends, taking their keys and ID badges, and watching them drive out of the parking lot and into the rest of their lives.
The older I get the more important people become to me. Seeing folks exit my life gets a little more difficult each time and each year. I know that all this probably sounds incredibly selfish, but I’ve lost some really good friends with this downsizing. I haven’t lost their friendship, but losing that near daily contact with people you care about is no less a loss.
To all my former colleagues and the two that I watched leave today. A traditional Celtic blessing – my favorite because of the beautiful mental picture that the words illustrate…
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
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