The line was delivered by a young boy that actually explained the whole concept of the big suspenseful surprise that came at the end of the movie. It was largely overlooked because most people remember and quote the line he uttered a minute later. You can guess the movie.
Which brings me to this week.
Late on Monday afternoon I was initiated into the wonderful world of contract work. After nearly four years working independently for the same client, I was told to pack up my things.
I'll have to tell you I was in complete shock, as was the rest of my co-workers, my friends that I have grown to love. My phone was ringing off the hook (ok, cell phones don't have hooks, but you get my drift) by all my friends asking what happened. I had no answer for them as I wasn't really given one.
My major project went live last February, we were still working on fixing the minor bugs and I was beginning a new project. Then "poof" in the night, it was all over. I heard the next couple of days was not very pleasant around the office. Not to sound arrogant, but I pretty much was the life of the party. Of course the party consisted of people walking past my cube hurling an insult my way and me giving as good as I got. I really loved the people and the culture.
Since I was self-employed, that meant no unemployment either, not that that could have touched my salary, but at least I wouldn't have felt totally useless.
Still in shock Monday night, I was reviewing my contacts at linkedin.com. For those unaware, it's a job networking site that I have been on for about 5 years now. With about 150 contacts, I could see plenty of opportunity to begin working on first thing Tuesday morning. The last thing I did before going to bed was to update my status. I simply wrote "looking for opportunities" and called it a night (and a very lousy day).
When I cranked up my laptop Tuesday morning, I had an email from a friend I hadn't seen in a couple years who now owns her own small consulting firm. Wanted me to contact her right away. I called and left a voicemail AND sent a responding email. By 10 am, she emailed me she had a busy day, but wanted to call me at 1:30. Talked with her about a position she had with a client that needed my skill set. We set up a meeting for Wednesday. I spent Tuesday preparing a resume and Tuesday evening running out and buying a couple of interview suits and shoes (that was the worst part).
She called me Thursday, told me her client wanted to meet me on Friday. About 4 pm yesterday, my new boss called me to say the client thought I was perfect and I could start my new job a week from Monday. They are giving a rough estimate of 7 months to a year work, but it's a rapidly growing start up company and odds are (unless I screw something up) it'll last longer.
I was so extremely relieved and shocked I could find another contract position before even one week went by.
Bad News, Good News and then.......
Bob's cell phone woke us early this morning. His mother only said, "I need help." and hung up. We threw on some clothes, brushed our teeth and were heading out when Bob was able to get ahold of her again. We told her to call 911 as his dad was yelling in pain and struggling to breathe.
We flew down the highway and arrived at their house about 6 minutes later and there was no ambulance in site. His dad didn't want her to call, we all agreed that from now on, we will call 911 regardless of what he says.
He was standing up leaning against a recliner, loudly complaining about the pain and not being able to breathe. Bob loaded him in our car, I took the backseat and held his hand. I could tell he was more in panic than in pain. Thankfully they live only about a mile from a fire station.
The guys at the station calmed him down right away, got an IV, oxygen mask and on a stretcher. I rode in the front of the ambulance thinking I could keep him calm, but he had already settled down alot knowing he was getting help.
Come to find out, a few days ago his doc had prescribed medication to help drain the fluid that was swelling the lower half of his body, but they hadn't filled the prescription. They are very proudful people, sometime to their own detriment.
They have now admitted him with congestive heart failure and gave him some medication that is definitely removing the deadly fluids from his body. He'll turn 90 in May and smoked up until about 10 years ago.
We'll be heading back up to the hospital soon and one of us will likely stay with him through the night. He's a wonderfully old stubborn man that won't listen to many people, but he does what Bobby tells him to do and I gave him a calmer lecture in the emergency room (I save my very stern lectures for my knucklehead brother) and told him that he is not to argue with his wife anymore about calling 911. He agreed with me, he's been my buddy ever since I began calling him "Burly" even though he's a slight built old guy.
This is a picture of him with my grandson nearly nine years ago on Father's Day. God I love the guy. (Actually I love all three of these guys in the pic.) Say a prayer. Gotta run. And by the way, if anyone happens to talk with M. Night Shyamalan, you can tell him to lay off my family for awhile, everyone is a little tired of all the twists and stuff.
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2 comments:
May God bless you and keep you.
My dad was given six mos to live with his congestive heart disease. I decided to spend my remaining Saturdays with him.
Did that for five years.
Thx Ed. He's alot better since they got rid of most of the fluids and he's on oxygen. I haven't seen him walk this fast in years. Never thought the old guy would agree to the oxygen, but he is finally realizing how much better he feels.
He's also accepting a heart healthy diet, changing his salt intake to the salt substitute.
Another 5 years would be great. Glad you had your good times with your dad.
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