When my mother and father were in the work force, the older they got, the more valuable they became to their employer. Experience, wisdom, reliability was worth something. No more.
Especially in a right to work state like Missouri. You can get canned for no reason.
Yesterday, I worried. To those who don't know me, I'm not a worrier. My motto has always been - worrying is wasted energy. But yesterday, I had this dread build up in me. "What would I do if I lost my job?" I'm old, I'm a bit crippled. I'm fat. I have no savings to speak of. What would I do?
Then today, a dear friend of mine who is about 20 years younger than me, lost his job. Were my feelings yesterday connected to him? I don't know. What I do know is, it made me madder than hell.
The people that fired him, picked his brain for his knowledge for 6 months and then wham, slam, bam, thank you man, you're gone. Just like that. No discussion as to what they could do to fit together. No compromise, no 'let's see what kind of future we can mold'. Just, get your things, you're done.
I believe he'll bounce back. He's too good at what he does not to. But it underlined what is wrong with America today. No respect, no values, no compromise.
I hope I can get my writing career going before I get canned because I'm expendable. If not, watch out Zach (my son), I'm moving in.
