When one is without work, one is without an easy label. And because I am now an "empty nester," I can't even really claim to be a "stay at home mom." This really hit me when I went to the local storage place to rent some space and the guy behind the counter asked me: "What do you do?"
I struggled a bit...and said something like..."Oh, I'm uh...I'm uh in marketing and do stuff, you know consulting and projects...and stuff." It was a totally off the cuff answer. As I walked away, I replayed the question in my mind: "What do you do?" And my answer..."Oh, I'm a bestselling novelist. Just home now between book tours." or...."I'm with the secret service. I know...can you imagine? I don't look the part, do I?" or... "I'm a stay at home mom. My kid is in Vegas while I stay at home."
While I hope not to actually use it, I also encountered a similar reality filling out the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Office of Unemployment Compensation forms. Especially the part where they ask for your Reasons for Unemployment. The options were:
1) Lack of Work
2) Voluntarily quit or left your job
3) Discharged or fired
Seriously. I looked at this a very long time before I could figure out which one to select. I knew the answer had to lie in number 1, but based on my "to do" list when I was laid-off, it just didn't register.
For a blog about being laid-off, you may be wondering....is this woman ever going to start looking for some work? Shouldn't she be writing about all the resumes she's sending out, and all the people she's meeting at interviews....and...and....what her next means of income will be?
I've realized over the past few weeks, that when someone asks me that same question again, "What do you do?" I want to offer up an intriguing response...and better yet, I'd like to rattle off several things that I do. I will work to be many brands in one. A renaissance woman so to speak. Diversified. And the term "Lack of Work" will certainly never apply. Now, the key will be to get that work to support my newly downsized lifestyle.
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2 comments:
"kid in Las Vegas and I'm at home". I can relate! My kid (Jen) just called to inform me she's hired a cleaning team (not individual, mind you, but a TEAM). "They're so good, Mom," she informed me. "And they're only $75! I'm having them come every two weeks."
I thought to myself ... this is not supposed to be the order of things ... 24 year-old daughter who drives a BMW and now has a cleaning team (i.e. what used to be called a maid back in the day), while 55 year-old mother just finished wrapping all her pennies, nickels and dimes to deposit into her checking account in order to cover the check she wrote to refinance her house (which will be now paid off when I'm 86).
Seriously, Peg, I love reading your blog. You should think about writing an article and sending it out to various magazines.
Of all your titles, I like Renissance Woman best. That's what I'm going to aspire to be when I grow up.
Linda
Hmmm...interesting story and gives me some thoughts for my next entry.
I'm glad you enjoy reading this stuff. Usually, it sits in my head with only me so it's nice to share.
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