Loving Life at 54

When you have worked one job for 16 years and you get dumped because they take your job across the water..........well it takes a lot to start over. I was in charge of my life and knew exactly what was expected of me each day until this happened one year ago. I just cannot seem to want to start at the bottom. I do not have the drive to want to be that "yes" person. It got me nowhere being so diligent and loyal. That is all they talked about was, longevity, loyalty, never missing a day of work even when you was sick as a tired dog. We were so brain washed to believe that we were indispensable and that we would always have a job. Ha! How can you go out and make $7.00 an hour when you were used to making $16.00 an hour with benefits and having 4 weeks of vacation and 11 paid holidays and 3 sick days and the comfort of knowing you were one of the old dogs that everyone respected and trusted. I was the mother of my job and the queen of my hallway. Everyone came to me for advice. Even if I did not know the answer, we would work at it until we made an answer work. It is so hard going out on endless interview and having them tell you that you are over-qualified or that you have to start from the bottom. They say "sorry" we cannot compete with what you made before and we cannot give you the benefits you once had. It sucks!

With fuel prices going up daily and me driving a one ton truck (so we can haul cows), I have to compare the job with the cost of fuel. And you know what, they just don't pay you enough to go out and get a job these days. By the time I pay almost $5.00 a gallon for diesel, and Uncle Sam takes his part, that $10.00 an hour job turns into a $5.00 an hour job. I would just be going to work to entertain myself to drive down the road with high class fuel. If I could drive on hot air, my attitude right now would take me far.

I love being 54, but I would like to know that I am still worth $16.00 an hour and that I could have some say in my day-to-day thoughts. Oh yes, they also tell you on these new job interviews that you are to just do what you are told and that you do not have any right having an opinion. Take that to the bank.

I feel better now. Y'all think about what it takes to love life as much as I do. I am surviving this without going crazy. I have my family....love my kids and grandson. Love my farm and garden and greenhouse. I one thing for sure, if I need to make good money, I just climb on the tractor and hire out and mow a pasture now and then. It is worth $35.00 an hour. I get the looks when I go to an oil lease and the men see a woman bushhogging the land around the lease. But you know with the price of diesel, I will charge $50.00 an hour. That rounds out to about an acre per hour.

Y'all have a good day and be happy about whatever life throws at you.