The Joys of Redundancy - Stage 5

By JAB

Different day, different idea.

“I’ll take a year off,” I decide out loud.

“Six months,” says Husband.

“Year,” I say.

“Maybe one day a week, perhaps at the local surgery,” he says.

Yeah right.

Next thing, I’m redoing my resume and swanning into a big city shoe shop, one that I’d scorned a few weeks ago when I’d heard it was Hiring Mature Sales-people. I’m sort-of dressed up, for a change, and forcing a brave face.

As it happens, the hiring manager, whose name I recognise from my frantic-googling for company information while travelling in on the tram for this purpose, and the assistant manager are both standing at the main counter. They get straight on with the business of screening me there and then.

“What are you looking for,” she says?

“Oh, one or maybe two days a week,” I prevaricate.

“We don’t have anything at the moment,” she says as she jots my availability onto the unopened envelope enclosing my-brilliant-career.

“Will let you know if anything comes up?”

I figure I’ve missed the bus here too but at least she sort of noted my availability and Spring is here and Christmas is, after all, only months away and show me a women who doesn’t need new shoes then…

“I am a customer of yours,” I throw in, thinking it might just turn the tide. The hiring manager is unmoved but the nice assistant smiles warmly at me.

As I leave, I ponder the hiring sign still in the window. What did I say wrong, I wonder? Maybe I didn’t say anything wrong. Maybe she wanted full time. Maybe it’s my hair. Maybe it’s just not for me.

Perhaps the recruitment outsourcing service will unlock some new tricks to winning over these powerful people because it’s different now. I am older.

I wander into the chocolate shop next door and gaze vacantly over the exotic choice.

Perhaps it is time to follow my dreams: finish writing my dad’s memoirs, finish my Cert IV, sell some copy writing, begin the volunteering to write-aged-biographies program, work for the Victorian Writers Centre and The Wheeler Centre, visit my ageing parents at my leisure, play more golf. At the very least, start a TO - DO List.

The Twenty Greatest Philosophy Books, James Garvey,

Continuum International Publishing Group, 2006

I found this book by accident, whilst I was looking for something else. I am glad I chose it –it is well-written, clear (even to me!) and entertaining – how often can you say that about academic non-fiction? Garvey leaves the complex jargon behind, instead choosing to write in plain, easy-to-understand language.  Each chapter is dedicated to a single book and author, so you can choose to start anywhere, rather than have to read consecutively. Garvey does follow history, beginning with Plato, and Aristotle, through to Enlightenment philosophers such as René Descartes, John Locke, and David Hume, and 20^th century writers such as Simone de Beauvoir, A.J Ayer, and Karl Popper. These books have shaped social development, politics, economics, science, morality, asking the big questions like – how do we know what we know? What is the purpose of existence? Can we be certain of anything? How should we treat others? How should the idea of justice be applied? And what does it all mean, anyway? They didn’t agree with each other, and might not have come up with definite answers (after all, what is definite?) but they all have one thing in common – at least they asked. Years ago I found out the meaning of the word philosophy – a combination of philo, a word meaning love; and Sophia, a word for wisdom, both from ancient Greek. Garvey’s book is for beginners who love wisdom.

For other people’s thoughts on this book and other books by James Garvey, go to http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2609229-the-twenty-greatest-philosophy-books

RAYLAN by Elmore Leonard

US Marshal Raylan Givens is the central character, and he’s been sent back to Harlan, Kentucky – his penance for shooting dead a felon in Miami. Even the marshals service knew he was too good to get rid of completely, but too bad to let loose in a big city.  He doesn’t shoot people unless he has to, but if he does shoot, you are dead. The other characters comprise a ‘delightful’ mix of organ thieves (kidneys, not instruments) , a bizarre family of dope-growers, and hard-nosed mining company executives. Another thing that makes this novel different is that the primary characters are female, and are portrayed as sharp, smart, and ruthless.

The book features Leonard’s trademark loose prose that lets go of the ‘proper’ rules of grammar, and it reminds me a bit of free-flowing jazz – it breaks the rules, but it still sounds brilliant. Raylan features Leonard’s dark, dry humour, the kind that makes you laugh, not in a side-splitting Seinfeld way, but in a sly, dark, covert way.
For more information on this fantastic writer, go to the Elmore Leonard official website

The Joys of Redundancy - Stage 4

By JAB

It is my day off and I’m walking aimlessly around the shops in my suburb. I walk past a new beauty shop and decide that I’ll get my neglected legs waxed; and it’s time for a haircut too. I buy a lipstick. A red one. I seem to stand a bit taller. Actually I am ok.

I’m sitting in the Employee Assistance Program office and retelling my story to my appointed counsellor – we are trying to understand what happened and why no other interviews have been forthcoming. She seems equally perplexed but then advises I must send off hundreds of applications if I am to expect a single bite. I must focus upon my skills; they are strong skills acquired from many years of experience; relevant experience. I must not get emotionally involved in this process but rather choose jobs that appeal to me and compliment my relevant skills. One day, she says, I will hit the jackpot but until then, I must play the game.

While there with my counsellor, I have a brainwave; that I will advertise my resume and cover letter writing skills on my own dedicated website. After all, I had success in doing it for a colleague free gratis, so why shouldn’t I do it for money?

She observes my changing body language. I seem to have taken some control of my situation. I realise I must become the boss. I must put my ideas into action. Stop the talk, start the action. It is the best form of retribution.