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On the morning of August 29, as Greg packed up his bag and readied himself for the hour long bike ride to work, he received a meeting notice on his phone, “Meeting at 9:30.” The rumor had been going around Nike that the reorganization of the company was finally taking place, a few months after the initial announcement. We had breezed through summer with no worries at all but school was starting, life was no longer a summer vacation and apparently layoffs were finally underway. Greg had heard the day before that his department was next in line. Rumors. Ah, the fear and fascination they evoke. But this meeting notice felt like proof. As the nervous energy began to permeate the kitchen that morning, I kissed him goodbye and I wished him luck. He wished himself luck. There was a part of us that secretly hoped he would be let go, that maybe this would push us towards some next adventure, even if it meant a job just a little bit closer to home.
Around 9:45, I received a text that said, “I am on my way home.”
The next adventure was beginning.
And here we are, nearly 9 months later, thousands of miles away. A new house. A new town. A new garbage and recycling pickup day. A new grocery shopping routine. New doctors. A new hairstylist. New directions to learn and new ways of doing things. It has certainly had it ups and downs, but this adventure has been worth it. And now, beginning on June 4th, things will change some more.
Greg has gotten himself a job.
I’ll be honest, I am a little nervous. Before Greg lost his job, I prided myself at being home with the kids. I was no poster child but I had a pretty good thing going (plus or minus my “losing my mind and crying in the bathroom” days). But for the last nine months, Greg has been home with me and I have had a glimpse of what it is like to have help and not feel so alone. I have been grateful for the time I have had for myself. He has been grateful for the time he has had with the kids. We have been grateful for the time we have had together.
And if I am really being honest, this is exactly how we had hoped it would turn out. The timing of this job that is. We were given time. Something we all value but so rarely have the gift of. These past months have allowed us time to focus on the move, the packing, the painting, the unpacking, the settling in. All the emotional and physical changes. It afforded us the chance to be with the kids when they really needed us. It allowed me the opportunity to work on projects that I had always hoped to do but just never found the time for. Greg was able to be more selective in his job hunt. This company and the position feel not only like the right fit but an exciting and fulfilling opportunity.
Besides, unemployment ran out a few weeks ago.
When I spoke at the Pecha Kucha event in April, I explained that this move back to Michigan was a clear, wide path that the Universe paved for us. The signs were so big and bright, slightly loud and obnoxious, that it made taking the steps just a little easier. I also said that, as of recently, there have been days when the path was too overgrown, the direction wasn't clear. I began to lose confidence. But I knew it was there, under all that overgrowth and noise, waiting. And I knew that if we remained patient (and by “we” I mean “I” since Greg was just born that way) and didn’t force the process, everything would fall into place, just as it should.
Just as it did.
So in just a little over one week, Greg will be starting his new job at Landscape Forms, a design company that specializes in outdoor furniture and lighting. Our Portland people, take note at Trimet stations and some bike racks around town. Landscape Forms does a lot of custom work.
In the meantime, I’m no fool. I started potty training the twins while Greg was still home. At the rate THAT is going, Greg is not even gonna miss us once this week it through.