Regarding My Man

Meanwhile…My Man

It’s been a very eventful month. Aside from gatherings, farewells, puppy potty training, and compromised toes, My Man has fought his own uphill dragons.

About three weeks ago, Frank was laid off. It wasn’t a surprise. His employers (a very small but thriving company) had generously kept him on their payroll for nearly a year even though they didn’t have much work for him, in the hopes that at any given moment, they’d win a contract where his skills would be relevant and lucrative. Which we took as a compliment to Frank…nothing like being retained during hard times to make you feel valued.

But a contract didn’t materialize, and the very small company changed its focus, eliminating Frank’s position. In his line of work, this is a common occurrence. Ebb and flow. But that doesn’t make it any easier to take. We’ve been through this twice before; I’ve learned from experience that there are few things that challenge a man’s identity and confidence more than joblessness.

Frank remained mostly cool and collected. The only evidence of his duress this time around: three cold sores appeared at random on his lower lip, each one an emphatic manifestation of his stress (this is traditional for Frank at anxious times; a ginormous one blossomed on his sweet young kisser the weekend that he proposed to me, bless his heart).

Thankfully, thankfully, he quickly found another job, a good one, and has an offer, which he’s accepted (whew). We don’t even have to move, which at first appeared inevitable and necessary (we just got the back yard in…I’m glad we’re staying on many levels). It may help that as far as qualifications go, Frank is just a shade shy from savant-ness in his field… but as much as I esteem his savvy, I don’t think we can attribute our escape to his genius alone.

Because. We are painfully aware that statistically, we got off super easy. So many hard working, deserving people suffer through long term unemployment and all of its side effects…without pat answers, timely respite, or shiny new jobs at the end of courageously won tunnels. Life can feel so random, so unfair. We know we’re lucky, slipped off the hook. Blessed with rescue rather than ordeal. We’re not sure why…but we’re super grateful.

And this is one time I could just hug Frank for being stoic.