Buzz Lightyear Costume For 2 Year Old

I am sure I am not alone in looking back on 2009 with mixed emotions. As I approached 2009, I was actually excited. My manuscript had just been accepted and before 2009 would be over I would be a published author.

As an Administrative Assistant for a trucking company where I had worked for nearly eight years, I was sure I would be there until I would retire in about seven or eight years.

In January of 2009, however, things took an immediate change of direction. I was called into an office that Friday morning where several large brown enveloped lay on a desk. Two of the company officers stood with cold expressions on their faces as they handed me one with my name on it. They asked me to read a document which was about ten pages long. I just held it in my lap, looked them in the eye and said, "I will read it later when I can actually process it. Just tell me what it says."

One of them began with, "This is not personal!" Really, are you kidding me? It really does not get much more personal than to tell me my services, my loyalty, my hard work are no longer needed.

I did not get upset, I was hurt. But, not realizing the situation of unemployment in North Carolina, I gathered my things, left work with the thought I would quickly get another job. I was even under the disillusionment I would find one in the next several weeks while I was on severance and be able to double dip with my severance pay and my pay at a new job.

On the next Monday, I saw an ad in the local paper for which, I would dress up, take my resume in hand and knock one interview out of the ballpark. I entered the door of a Chiropractor's office only to find sixty-five women from all walks of life and background applying for the same terrible job. I felt as though I was in a tiny room with an out of control Tupperware party going on. I waited two hours to find out he was offering .00 an hour with no benefits and expectations of everything from physically helping the clients to cleaning the toilets.

Later that same week I went to a Job Fair, along with about 2,000 other people and watched as a kind gentleman placed my resume in the fifth box under the table. I had always thought a black hole was something in outer space, but suddenly I realized it wasn't, it was right there under the table.

In February my husband came home with more difficult news, he too had lost his job. My fingernails looked like they had been chewed off by a buzz saw.

By March, my severance was running out. My spirits were low and I was filled with discouragement. I was debating about whether or not to take COBRA insurance because of the cost. I felt beaten down. I saw in the newspaper 74,000 North Carolinians were

out of work. I closed my eyes and began to pray. I prayed for all of us, all 74,000 of us; but I asked specifically for me. I prayed the Lord would help me find a job.

With my eyes still shut, it seemed as though I heard a voice say, "Diane, do you want me to put you ahead of the other 74,000?" Tears began to stream down my face as I said, "No, Lord." I abruptly changed my prayer. I prayed for those with small children, those who would lose their homes, those who had no hope and nothing to keep them going. I asked Heavenly Father to just remember me and place me and my needs in line in accordance with his will. I trusted him with where my place in line should be. After all, he knows how it ends; all I can see is where I stand.

A peace came over me for the first time in months. I knew I would be alright. We would make it. This prayer changed my outlook for the remainder of the year and perhaps the remainder of my life. Instead of looking at my losses, I began looking for things to be grateful for.

The first one that came to mind was my husband. He is older than I am. Often times when one of us would mention retirement, he would say, "We will never get to retire together because of our age difference." Well there you go! True we were not retired, but we were certainly together 24/7 and enjoying every minute we had together. I am grateful for this time, precious, precious time.

Tagged as: Administrative Assistant, buzz lightyear, Buzz Lightyear Costume, buzz lightyear costume for 2 year old, change of direction, Diane K. Dean, five women, friday morning, Guilford Technical Community College, mixed emotions, new job, North Carolina, party going on, published author, severance pay, tiny room, trucking company, Tupperware party, walks of life