No Job, No prospects

Friday 8:25 A.M. Virginia Employment Commission. 40-50 folks of differrent backgrounds stand outside waiting patiently for the office to open. Laborers, white collar workers, men and women, Black, White Latino, either looking for work or for an unemployment check. I stand with them. No jobs, no prospects, Checks depend on going out for a couple of interviews a week. No jobs, no prospects, get up and do it again next week. Things are same or worse all over the country.

Unemployment went from 5.5% to 9.0% in Norfolk from July of 08 to July of 09. I see the Air Force is looking for meteorological technicians. If I was 20 or 25 I would enlist in the Air Force. At my age and physical condition they can't use me, although I have the skills and experience to succeed. True, I can't maintain the physical fitness requirements but I can do the job. How many times do I have to run around the block to take a weather observation or give a forecast. A conundrum.
So I stand in line. Each week I fill out 4-5 applications and send out a few resumes. But I'm 55, I am coming off a 9 month disability because of cancer. But I can do the job. My last employer kept me on payroll, though I still had to pay COBRA insurance rates. After I said I was ready to come back to work, I went to part-time on call basis. They called once, their business depends on a good economy. Nobody wants to spend money on special events in this economy.

 So I filed for unemployment; no jobs, no prospects. I'm better off than many. I have a pretty good size retirement from the government thanks to 20 years in the navy. My family has health insurance. Once again thanks to 20 years in the navy. I'm optimistic, things will turn eventually. My friend Kirk wrote a few days ago of putting in an application at White Castle. I understand. I see men and women my age behind the counter. Jobs that once belonged to teens. But the teenagers are having just as tough a time getting work as I am. Currently we have 5 adults living here. Shari's the only one with a job. My retirement pays the rent, her paycheck pays the utilities.

 I found out Friday we may qualify for food stamps. Something in me doesn't want to take them. Pride I guess, foolish but there it is. Of course eating is better than not eating. Sometimes the kids, go panhandling to get money for cigarettes and food. Something I did on the beaches of Los Angeles 40 years ago. But its not 1969 its 2009. Now its mine to do the worrying. Not my Mom's. Now she is mine to worry about as well. 72 her health is failing her husbands health is failing. They're in an area with a worse economy than ours here. No Jobs, no prospects.

Committment part 2

I have been asked a number of times why I commited to do a half marathon in 2 years This is why. Anna is a 'tend friend who went through the same surgery as me at the same time last year. She is a life long runner and has competed in marathons before. She is a physical therapist as well. My committment is in support of her and other 'tend friends with other health problems who have also commited to the 1/2.marathon.

Unfortunately for Anna this year she had to be unexpectedly rehospitalized just a few weeks ago for more surgery.But intends to compete as soon as she is able.You Go Girl! I had trouble embedding this video.