We are Safe

As I was going through my day, cleaning the shower, listening to Jack practice the piano, checking on Sam as he does his math, keeping Claire and Blake occupied with a Blues Clues computer game; in the back of my mind I was wondering will Skip have a job at the end of the day. This line of thinking is some what stressful. I am sure Skip is more stressed than me right now. We had been waiting for the past ten days for cuts at his job. Speculating that we were okay, we went on with our daily routines, knowing there is nothing we can do but wait and hope that it is not us.

"We are safe." Skip said over the phone. His voice was wavering and sad. He told how two people had been cut from his team and said good-bye with moist eyes. They thought that their team would be some how spared. The cuts reach everywhere. personnel are walking through the building carrying white boxes of doom to each of the laid off people.Each being unaware of their fate till someone shows up with a white box at their cubical to escort them past all the extra security,then to add insult to misery, they will search the said box of your personal belongings or your manager gives the all clear for your team and you are safe.

Skip and I have played this game. We know the feeling of being completely blind sided. It is not fun. It cuts right to your very core. Skip handled it with such grace. He was completely strong and was ready to move on to search for another job. Which he did with great speed. Skip is an incredibly hard worker, with extreme integrity. This does not always insure a job, nothing is ever for sure. I am blessed to know that he is not a slacker at work and will always provide for our family no matter the circumstance we find ourselves in.. Even in the face of no job his head is up. What a great example for my boys.

Across our great nation many are being handed white boxes or pink slips. You have no say in it. Your fate is decided by the man. It is very upsetting. I am strengthened by those around me that called and asked this morning,"Are you alright? Do you need anything?" I hope as we watch our friends and neighbors go through this hard time we can help them. I know the help that came to us from friends and family during that time was greatly appreciated.