Back in the Saddle

It has been a while since we last posted. While a quelling of significant political news over the summer was a partial contributor, the main reason is that I became part of the statistic that was just unveiled as 9.7%. I was laid off.

You learn a whole lot about the importance of government created safety nets when your career and livelihood are ripped out from under your feet. Unemployment benefits helped (although finding part time work and having a side business made getting payments a struggle at times). At the time I was laid off, Pennsylvania did not even have a mini-COBRA plan providing post-employment health care options for those laid off by small companies with fewer than 20 workers. Pennsylvania passed a mini-COBRA bill over the summer, but not in time to help me. The significance of a national Health Care bill that disentangles health care insurance from employment became very apparent.

When you lose your job, you lose your income, your daily routine a peer group and often your confidence. Losing reasonable cost Health Insurance at the same time is like throwing water on a drowning person. (COBRA is often very expensive, especially if you just lost your income).

We will be exploring the Health Care debate in upcoming posts, now with the fortunate/unfortunate insight of having looked up from inside the crevice of the Recession.

I am employed once again in a very good job, with a very good company, even though it required us to move to another state and leave all our friends and a neighborhood and community we loved. But as tough as it has been to give up so much, we were lucky. 9.7% of those in 'The Work Force' and many more who have just stopped looking are not as fortunate. If you ever want to stop feeling sad for yourself while going through a tough time, just think about those who really would rather be in your shoes. If that doesn't help, just remember to always look on the bright side of life: