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4 Comments
Kelly Marie Dawson
I always enjoy my time creative writing with this group of amazing people. I am inspired and appreciate the small groups as I share my story. I hope yo can take time to read my short story about how this turning point in my life helped me heal through the practice of Shamanism. Thank you for taking time.
Dorothy M Weiss
Kelly,
Thank you for sharing how you learned to trust in the Divine. All things are possible. Only believe. Your short story flows smoothly. Good imagery . Well written.
Dorothy M Weiss
SURVIVAL
By Dorothy Weiss
Pan American Airway ceased operations in 1991, declared bankruptcy leaving thousands of loyal employees, including me, out of work. My 25 years of service, job benefits, health benefits, insurance and travel benefits disappeared. I was almost ready to retire in a few years and had been looking forward to more leisure time. For the first time in my adult life, I was out of work. Who was going to hire a 55 year old? Employers were eager for the young folks graduating from High School or College. How was I going to survive in this competitive New York environment? It hurt.
My beloved husband, Nick died two years ago and I was still reeling from that experience. He had a stroke, and then another one while in then hospital, followed by a heart attack, and he lapsed into a coma. Then he was just gone. Gone! I had cried enough tears to make Niagara Falls look like a baby water fountain. I had cried until I had no more tears. The pain of losing him was horrendous. Death is so final. It does not ask permission. It just takes.
But I had survived, and slowly , gone on with my life, like a turtle crossing a busy highway trying to get to the safety of green lush grass and a shimmering lake sparkling in the sun. My heart ached, but I thres myself into work at PANAM. My job kept me focused, and moving forward. Pricing air/sea tour combinations made me stay alert. Travelling to the PANAM building via the New York Subway system kept me conscious of the hustling, bustling life going on around me. Sink or swim. I had begun to swim again; then PANAM dissolved. My friends , colleagues, associates at work cried. We were all mortally wounded, but I found myself telling them, “ I know what this is; this is just another death. Nothing can ever hurt me more than Nick’s death. I survived that devastating blow. I can survive this. There has to be life after PANAM too.”
I got busy, sending out resumes , to other airlines, travel agents, pounding the pavement, in and out of stores Macy’s , Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, in and out of FEDEX, in and out of the Post Office where they showed me a broom and told me they were only hiring folks my age, in that capacity , and in and out of CUNARD CRUISE LINES LTD. The CUNARD personnel interviewer was astounded. One of their pricing agents in their travel department was going on maternity leave. She would be back after the baby was born, but they needed someone now. I was a perfect fit . Would I accept the job on a temporary basis and maybe they could find something else for me at CUNARD when the mother- to-be- returned.?
I took the job. Salary more than I was making at PANAM, health insurance, pension plan, free travel on the QE2 and PRINCESS , CUNARD’S banner ships. My travel time to work increased. The job was not in New York City where I lived, but in another borough, Long Island City, Queens, 45 minutes by subway for me from my apartment.
The lady I replaced had her baby, and never returned to CUNARD. I was now a permanent employee along with two other 55-60 year old ladies who had lost their jobs during CITICORP Bank’s multiple mergers. New friends, new colleagues, new travel adventures . Yes, there was life after PANAM. I discovered and strengthened my own survival skills. Turning points. Never give up, Adjust, adjust, adjust, and keep going. Nick’s death, a deep searing, heart rending loss, prepared me for PANAM’s death, a job loss,frightening unemployment. So , here I am today in Orlando, Florida,2020, surviving. I don’t cry anymore. I just start working on whatever new challenge appears. I have learned that when one door closes, another one opens. All things are possible. Only believe .Never, ever give up.
Thank you Darlene Lamb for your compassionate critique of my life experience/story and for sharing your miraculous experience/story/photo, “The Gift”. Thank you Patricia and Amanda. Pairing me with Darlene was perfect. Happy Holidays, Merry Xmas to all.
Darlene Lamb
Hello Dorothy. Believe it or not I am just reading this today. June 4th. That was sweet of you to acknowledge me in your thank you. I was just thinking about you the other day and hoping you are able to return to this group again.