Perhaps the Last Conversation I Needed to Have Today...

Below is a transcript of an IM conversation I just had with the STBX. My guess is she is not in a good space right now.

STBX 1:37 DID YOU GET MY MESSAGE

Me 1:38 Via what medium?

STBX 1:38 IM

Me 1:38 No.

STBX 1:39 WELL AS OF DEC 13 I DON'T HAVE A JOB UNLESS THEY FIND SOMETHING ELSE INTERNALLY

Me 1:39 That's not good.

STBX 1:39 I KNOW

Me 1:39 Why are they cutting you?


STBX 1:39 THEY ARE CUTTING POSITIONS, SHE SAYS IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF MY WORK JUST SOMETHING THEY COULD DO WITHOUT

Me 1:40 I'm sorry. :-(

Me 1:40 Would you like some help with your resume?

STBX 1:40 PROBABLY, THEY SAID THEY COULD HELP TOO BUT I JUST DON'T WHAT I AM GOING TO DO

Me 1:41 I know this is going to be tough because it will be the first time in a long time since you had to look for a job.

Me 1:42 And it will probably mean rearranging some commitments.

Me 1:42 But you can do this.

Me 1:43 Did they say how they could help?

STBX 1:44 I THINK THEY MAY EITHER BE ABLE TO HELP WITH A RECRUITER OR SERVICE AGENCY

Me 1:45 I would take them up on whatever help they can provide.

She has been with this employer for over 12 years, except a 5 month stint in 1997 as a secretary over at the big university located over in east central Lincolnland. Since moving to the Circle City in 2000, she had enjoyed a pretty cushy arrangement, working remotely doing work on her laptop while she watched TV. She had taken advantage of the flexible work schedule, squeezing in work between things she was doing for preschool and kindergarten.

Although she interviewed internally for different positions within the company in the past, she hasn't had an interview where she's had to truly sell herself since May 1997. I feel bad for her, and it's going to be a struggle to resist to bailing her out. The truth is that there are women out there who make do on a lot less. This is just a part of what Have the T-Shirt alluded to as "putting on the big girl panties."