The Road To Today-”Market Meltdown”
We have covered the major stages of my life through the year 2001:
“Addiction of Instant Gratification”
Now we can cover the period I called the market meltdown. I last told you that upon the return from my honeymoon in 2001, I had an urgent call from my boss. When I called her back I was told that all of the management staff with the exception of me and two others, as well as 50% of the staff had been laid off. This was do to the sudden Tech market downturn, and the loss of 40% of our network capacity with the events of 9/11. I however was given a raise and a promise of bonus if I was willing to remain with my company through the market “hiccup”, while we redeployed, and reworked ourselves.
For many and most this is a scary proposition. I however was not concerned. Going back to my frugal ways since returning to Virginia, and amassing a large savings, and having a wife in the same field as I making the same money I was knew we could ride out any market hiccups.
The market as we all know wasn’t hiccupping, it was melting down. My wife was laid off within the month, her company shutting its doors. She was given a generous severance, and that would hold as her “pay” until she found new work. An easy thought but not easy in practice.
I continued to work for my employer, now sometimes 12 and 13 hours a day. We weren’t recovering we were redesigning. Few of us knew what the real project was. Preparing ourselves to be an attractive buyout. In the late fall of 2001 the buyout offer came. The only caveat was they only wanted our customers and facilities not our employees. I found myself laid off right before Thanksgiving.
I was lucky. My dedication paid off with a generous severance package. With what my wife and I had saved, we could survive for about 9 months financially. It would however take its toll on our marriage.
We continued to limp through the next few months. After a few months my wife took a job in a new field for 50% of her pay. She loved the job, hated the pay. I took a consulting job for the same pay I had left, but quickly found I hated the work. The contract ended in December of 2002. By May our savings had dwindled to only a 3 month “cushion” Then I started work with a non-profit in 2003. I am still with them today. I love the people, and the job challenging. We slowly began rebuilding our savings, and lived the “normal” life, not choosing to “keep up with the Joneses.” Then in the spring of 2004 my life changed.
While my wife and I were great friends and that was all. We had grown apart, and were two strangers living under one roof. We tried to meet our differences, and resolve the conflict, but finally realized, we were only friends, and no other feelings existed anymore. I didn’t find out until later, she had developed feelings for a family friend (he was a divorcee). With that realization, I realized the marriage was over. I was on my own again.
More Soon…..
~Another Day
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