Now I Can

After 14 years, 8 months and 11 days, another chapter of my life is closed.

Actually, the full chapter was longer: I spent almost 19 years in the industry that I am now exiting, both at and not at my choice. I just spent the last almost 15 years in one place. I went from entry level, to fill-in supervisor, back to entry level in another department, expanded my knowledge base and experience, and then went back to the first department as a relief and then salaried supervisor, and then became expendable, as a new owner decided who they valued and who they didn't.

Eh. They bought the property. They have the right to make those decisions. My personal thoughts on their methodology used to make the personnel decisions doesn't matter. Life goes on.

At any rate, it was a long time. Lots of memories. Lots of anecdotes. Many funny; some not.

Lots of acquaintances and colleagues in that time. Many were there and gone, making little, if any, impression. Some will be missed, but the memories will, in the words of a song, "become hazy". And some will remain with me, be it good or bad, for the balance of my consciousness.

I saw the best in human nature; I saw the worst. I had the pleasure of working for some fine people. Even where we disagreed, it was good. I've seen and worked for worse.

I had the pleasure of supervising the exemplary, the competent, the good-natured, the dependable; and I suffered the day-by-day annoyance of trying to deal with/fix the unmotivated, the uncaring, the dishonest, the undisciplined, and the unethical.

I am pleased to know that, as I look back on those last years, my good/bad balance sheet is not unfavorable at the end. I leave with a good reputation among my colleagues, and -- ironically -- even with those who did not choose to retain me.

I worked in a place where no end of college doctoral thesis' could be composed. Where a comedy writer would find fertile ground. Where one could witness a significant segment of the human experience as it was played out. I witnessed what humans consider entertainment; avarice; happiness; sadness; silliness; stupidity; greed and loss. Courage and compassion.

I witnessed -- and participated in -- lives saved and lost.

I also witnessed my own evolutions and changes as I left behind my 30s, and memories of other successes and failures before. Now I find myself approaching my middle 50s, only to have to begin again. Regrets there are, to be sure; but also comes a comforting knowledge and certainty of my ability and experience that will allow me to begin again, and demonstrate once more the generally good reputation that I leave behind with my colleagues, will carry forward to the future.

Knowing that I have, gives me confidence that I can, again. Today need know nothing more than that. The future will show what yesterday already knows.

Now that I am there no longer, a few anecdotes I can tell. My own misadventures will be well-chronicled, too. Laughing at me is what I do best, on my own road to forever, where memories are eternal, and laughter, as here, remains the best medicine.

More to come.