Work Work Work

    I took a leap last year.  I had cardiac ablation last year to rid me of the pesky Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome and immediately put in my notice at work.  My former employer was a very large, very popular airline.  I have dealt with some of the angriest people in the industry and have had some of the most interesting situations come across my desk. That was my job, to handle 'escalated' situation.
    My last official day of work was May 8th. I worked the overnight shift so that my Mother's Day present to myself would be no more 50 hour work weeks. I was giving up a good salary, great benefits and a steady future income but I had plans. I was going to enroll in school, look for a part time job in the fall. 
   It didn't exactly go that way, because an opportunity came to me.  It was practically gift wrapped. There was a part time position available at the church right next door to the school my children attend.  On May 7th, I interviewed for the job.
   May 7th was also the day of the track meet. I support my kids so I went to the track meet on that beautiful sunny day.  Just two weeks before I was taking 4 different heart medications. Two of them cause sun sensitivity. Hmmm..  I wonder what happened.  Yes, I was wearing sunglasses so I got the coolest of all sunburns. (Insert sarcasm here.)
   My first job interview in over 15 years was going to be at 7p.m. and I did not get to my house until almost 6:30 p.m.  I took a look in the mirror, the mom outfit, the ridiculous sunburn and frantically scrambled thru my make up drawer. I guess I was frantically looking for an actual miracle product. I quickly realized that there was nothing that would cover either the red stripes, or the white ones.  I took a long look in the mirror, brushed my hair and walked out of the house.  The only thing worse than showing up for an interview looking this ridiculous would be to show up late. (This is what I am telling myself.)
    I showed up a few minutes early and this is when the situation got even more ridiculous.  I was not just being interviewed.  There were seven or eight people there ready to question me. FANTASTIC!  A group humiliation event.  OK, so needless to say, it was really difficult to take the whole thing seriously knowing what I looked like. So I just relaxed, introduced myself, smiled and made a joke about my first interview appearance in 15 years.
    I was FLOORED when I got the phone call Monday. They were actually offering me the job. I was unemployed for ONE day.  I had planned to goof off with the girls all summer but now I would need to report to work the next day. WOW!  I thought back to the interview questions. What on earth could these people have thought? None of the interview questions were that challenging and I breezed through them all.  So I was given a gift.  I would be able to be right next door to the school if my children needed me. My hours were to be pretty flexible if I needed.  Amazing.
   Now that it is almost a year later, I would add a couple of things to the interview list.  This is not just a job.  Being an Administrative Assistant at a church is more challenging than I would have imagined.  There are days when I just would like to run away.  Unlike my previous job, if someone is upset with me when I explain how or why something will not happen, I will see these people again. Not only will I see them at work, I attend the church where I work.  This means that often, on Sunday, I am asked for things. That is fine, but it should be disclosed in the interview.  If I am in that building, I consider myself to be "at work". 
   Now, life may very well take another change.  I never know what will come next as for some reason I feel that the possibilities are endless. I feel completely free since my surgery in a way that I will someday try to put into words.  When I was hired for this job, I was told that the new Pastor may want to hire someone else and that I may be let go. I am at peace with that. I have had some wonderful conversations with some wonderful people. The good thing about that job is everybody eventually comes to my office. I get to see some of the kindest faces. I have gotten many hugs and many words of encouragement.
   There is no room for regrets or unnecessary disappointment in life. It is experience, and I LOVE experience. I hope to have many many more experiences to talk about.