Morning here Joe,
I do understand how you feel especially since the industry you worked in bit you so badly that you denigrate the very industry that kept you so long.
Three times in my working life this has occurred, firstly as a young married man with five children under 8 yrs of age we travelled to New Zealand to be sealed as a family in our Church a journey then of 4 hrs from Sydney, this trip took 36 hrs without sleep caused by car 200 miles to Sydney delayed Charter Quantas flight due to terrible weather conditions, a bus trip in NZ and 8 hrs later my wife was transfixed half way between a standing and crouched position with excrutiating pain from a huge Kidney stone no means of contacting me for 2 hrs then to hospital far away for ten days. My fellow travellers and me shared baby and child minding during this time. I took all we had financially and four years to recover financially after we got home. I sure learned a lot about SWMBO skills and learned heaps about the role of provider, care giving, grief for my dearly beloved, her commentoverseas was she would rather have the five children over again than that pesky painful episode. When we returned home finally the first working day my Boss said well mate bad news last to start first to go. Those days one phone call and I started another job the following Monday.
Fast forward age 55 yrs Scientific Photographer for many years this huge semi Govt body down sized all photographic units over a couple of years I worked as a Santa Coordinator for several stores, young kids for staff for a few weeks over Xmas (lots of grey hairs tough Mums and Bubs) then succeeded at this age going back to my trade as an Electrician in Maintenance competing with younger guys up in roofs, tall ladders, asbestos ridden roofs, heavy lifting and at 62.5 yrs made redundant due to user pays policy of a major University.
At this time I felt really like you without the benefit of youth cut my losses and retired some 15 yrs ago now, tried not to be bitter and be positive about lifes ups and downs.
Over six months ago my dearly beloved was diagnosed and operated on for Sarcoma and Ovarian Cancer just coming out of an horrific series of Chemo into four Radio therapy session to come soon.
If it is any comfort to you IMHO there is nothing in this life more humbling than ill health, any working situations can be resolved. Take less appealing but paying employment as interem to pay the bills.
Prior to World War one my Grandfather worked with an Electrical Coy and until the returned serviceman came back from the war had what was then a bullet proof job (he was manpowered and forbidden to join the Army as his occupation was locked in for home security) Great Depression times ex Military guys trained by him he was sacked for their sake and never worked for some years, my Dad was a messenger boy come Post Office Mail man and in his youth, his brother took off his two sisters as well went to the big city 200 miles away never contributed and my Dad used to put his wages on the mantleshelf and Grandma used to give him 2 shillings for himself. My Graddad was born in 1880 and my Dad in 1906, I was born in another huge depression time in 1934, my Dad served overseas in WW2 in the Middle East and I spent time in the Army as well.
So yes Joe I have an indelible memory of hardship, causal facts, a strong family of independant people. To this day I mostly make Slimlines with Streamline bands why I hear you ask because I live within my means and maintain my independance try not to throw my old shoes away before I have the new ones.
Please have a happy outcome I have so far and learned long ago to share any talents I have. Gods blessings to you and yours.
Kind regards,
Peter in Aus.
