Looking forward -- and back...

The year 2011 was a bit of a wild ride for me that started with surgery for a hernia in January, being in a serious automobile accident in February that left me with a destroyed car and a concussion, and then leaving my job as Managing Editor of Emlen Media in March. Somewhere around this time I came to the realization that there were many things taking place that were not in my control, and that in order to get through this year I was going to need to hang on tight. Things would be alright if just given time.

This, of course, is easier to do when the world is not falling down around you. Still, I am the kind of person that looks to the end of a year to assess everything that has happened, and does not focus on individual segments -- good or bad. Also, to change the energy as much as I can, as needed.

To that end, my strategy seemed to be working as life moved forward over the coming months. I began looking for work and contemplating a career change.  I started interviewing at newspapers for jobs in advertising sales and was approached by a temp agency working with The Press Democrat, a New York Times regional newspaper, for a job selling New Media, or online advertising, as part of a pilot program for the company. The position was temp-to-hire, and I took it, since the paper has always been one of my favorites and the opportunity seemed great. A bonus point was that it was only 10 miles from home!  My first commission check, which arrived in August, was $3,800, and I had really not sold very much of anything. I even told this to my boss, who insisted I had earned it. Whatever.  We used the money to pay bills and to buy a new Tempurpedic bed.

Gremlin

On June 1st, another catastrophe with the passing of Gremlin, Robin's longest-term Maine Coon cat of more than 17 years. It was difficult for all of us, human and feline, because Gremlin was such a presence in this house. 

Samson

On June 19, our wedding anniversary, I brought home "Samson," a six-week-old Maine Coon kitten. He wouldn't take the place of Gremlin, but he might ease the pain for Robin, I speculated. Samson immediately gravitated to her -- and to this day, 8-10 lbs heavier, he still nurses on her neck every single day.

 By October, although promised I would be made permanent at work, it was not happening.  I told my boss that I really needed full-time permanent work, and would have to start looking if they couldn't bring me on in short order.  I put my resume back online -- and began applying for jobs. I was approached by AT&T to work in their Interactive Media Sales department, full-time, permanent, and with great benefits.  I started in November, and graduated from training in mid-December.  I have already been out on sales calls and am enjoying my new position. 

So here it is, the day after Christmas. Less than a week until the end of the year.  Yes, there are a lot of things that could still go wrong between now and then.  But I marvel at all of the things that have managed to go right in what started out as a tumultuous time in my life, but certainly not the most tumultuous that I have ever been through.

Here's to a Happy New Year next week!