Sometimes when I go a long time without posting that I have so much to say I don’t know where to start. So I don’t. Then I don’t so more. Then I think of one thing but feel like I need to give the post its proper respect and I am not sure I can do it because the event happened weeks ago.
Example. My brother was laid off of his job of 22 years. It happened on a Thursday a few weeks ago. They escorted him home, took his blackberry, company truck, laptop and said that he could come back later and collect any personal effects in his office. Twenty two years. It was his first job out of school. He had never had a bad review and the firing came as a huge surprise. My mom called me on the Saturday to tell me, wondering if my brother had called me. He hadn’t. We are not close and I don’t think I am at the top of the list of people to break bad news to unless it is family related. My mom is our conduit.
When my mom told me about Mike’s job loss, she told me he cried when he told her. He was upset and hurt and confused, he loved his job. Knowing that my brother cried made me sob after I got off of the phone with my mother. I grabbed a cotton sock near by bed, for no kleenex in sight (and I was still in bed, slacking on a Saturday morning). I grabbed a lime green cotton sock that I had worn to bed because my feet are always cold, regardless of temperature. I cried until that sock was wet. I shook and cried and imagined my brother crying. I had seen it only on one other occasion. He was working at a part-time job tand was a consistently top salesman. They offered him a decent severance bu reneged on giving him thousands dollars in commissions. He spoke with a lawyer that told him it was too expensive to fight for something that might not have a positive outcome. He took the severance on the following Wednesday, they did not even give him a week to look it over.
I think Mike will be fine, he will get an excellent reference and has made many good contacts in his years in sales. I am not worried, we live in a province that has a low unemployment rate, is oil rich and he is in the right industry. We aren’t close, we have very little in common with, I love his two kids, my nieces, but he cried.
My damp sock and sad can not do anything for him, and I guess it is ok. I said I am sorry and I don’t think he would want anything from me. But my brother, he cried, and it hurt.
Oh, hon, that is really awful. I hate that crappy things like that happen to people.
Comment by Lotus — September 18, 2009 @ 1:17 am
That sucks. That really really sucks.
I am glad to see you post, though. Too bad it is suckery motivated.
Want me to knit you a cover for your iPhone? For reals. Let me know. I can make one for your brother, too!
Comment by Kate — September 18, 2009 @ 1:27 am
It sucks when things like that happen for no apparent reason. I hope your brother finds a good job soon.
Also, I have to say, you have a way with words, my dear. This sentence:
“I grabbed a lime green cotton sock that I has worn to bed because my feet are always cold, regardless of temperature. I cried until that sock was wet. I shook and cried and imagined my brother crying.”
and the last sentence are nearly perfect echoes of each other. I felt your sadness and sympathy for your brother, and I sympathized too…but at the same time I was mentally saying, “Yes!” because those words in that order made me so happy.
Comment by bethany actually — September 18, 2009 @ 1:55 am
It is like a “Sibs” code. “You Fu*% with my brother, you fu*% with me.” It doesn’t seem to matter if one is on different space/time continuams with said sibling. It is a law.
Comment by jfoo — September 18, 2009 @ 7:31 am
I do sorry to hear that!
((
but will you hate me if I tell you the image of you crying into a sock you found on the floor strikes me as insanely funny. I think you will forgive mr.
Comment by Aimee Greeblemonkey — September 18, 2009 @ 7:52 am
I’m so sorry! I know you told me about this already – but it REALLY sucks. But I know he’ll be okay.
If my brother cried, I’d be a mess as well.
Comment by Mrs. Wilson — September 18, 2009 @ 11:46 am
Close or not, your bro is lucky to have you. I wish him another 22 years of success.
Comment by Marina — September 18, 2009 @ 2:54 pm
You’re a good sister and a good woman and a good friend. You are all these things to him. I hope he is doing really well now that the crying is done.
Comment by Mocha — September 18, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
Awww, man. That totally sucks donkey balls.
I’ve been out of work since June 2008. I live in a fairly small town, and our economy is tourist- & real estate-driven. Two industries that have obviously take a huge hit. It sucks.
This by way of thinking that it sounds like your brother should have much better luck than I have. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for him.
Comment by Alyce — September 19, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
I’m sorry for your brother. He must feel terrible.
I know just how you feel about him though. My brother is an ASS, but he’s my brother. He’d probably hate it, if he thought you were feeling bad for him. You can squeeze his girls extra tight though.
Kim xo
Comment by kim @ mommyknows — September 22, 2009 @ 9:23 am
I can’t even begin to imagine what that loss must be doing to his sense of identity. He’ll be fine, but I feel for the transition he’ll have to go through.
Comment by schmutzie — September 22, 2009 @ 9:35 am
How sad. How cold and impersonal. I’m glad to hear that he’ll probably move onwards and upwards but still what a horrible, horrible shock. For all of you. Sending good thoughts!
Comment by Alison — September 28, 2009 @ 5:25 pm