Is the dog next?

Most, if not all of you, probably read my entry from a few weeks ago about how I got dumped or even heard about it in person. Well, to add to it now, I'm losing my job.

Yup. 22 and unemployed. Now is a good a time as ever to explain about my job (for those of you who never heard about my job in the first place). So if you know what I'm doing for a living, feel free to skip this next paragraph.

At the end of February of this year, I was offered the position of Bishop's Aide in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. As Bishop's Aide, I did a little bit of everything. I drove the Bishop to his parish visitations on Saturdays and Sundays. I took care of his vestments. I took notes at the meetings he held during the visitations. I was also learning to serve as "Bishop's Chaplain" during the service. (I'd be responsible for setting up the Eucharistic table for communion.) And of course, I'd drive him back to his home in Cambridge. Before these visits, I'd be in charge of the preparation for the visits. I'd mail stuff to the priests, then get stuff back from them, and mail them more stuff. I'd also prepare the handouts to be passed out to the Vestry members. When I wasn't doing that, I'd help the Bishop's Administrative Assistant with administrative stuff, like filing (and lots of clearing out of the folders), faxing, and replying to the occasionally inane issues that came up in the office. (Do you know how many people call up the Bishop's Office for silly stuff?)

You can all start reading again.

So I accepted this job in Boston. They wanted me to move closer to Boston, which I was totally in favor of, as long as I could afford to. They wanted me to commit to staying for 2 years, which I was totally in favor of. It was taking me a bit to adjust to the hours (9am-5pm, instead of 2pm-11pm) and to my two bosses, but I loved this job. I absolutely loved it. (And they were paying me well.)

All of a sudden, yesterday I was informed that my position will cease to exist as of August 1, 2001. The position of Bishop's Aide is being restructured to better serve the 3 bishops, so instead of one full-time position, it will be two part-time positions. One person will take care of the visitations and the driving, I believe. The other person will support, not just the Administrative Assistant for my Bishop, but all three of the Bishops' Administrative Assistants. I don't totally understand how it will work out, but then, I don't think anyone else is entirely sure either...which doesn't make me feel any better.

I have been laid off at 22 and I will be unemployed less than 2 weeks before my birthday. (Oh yeah, what a birthday present that is.) I'm trying to be positive about it, but it's been rather difficult. I'm also trying to be a good sport about it. I understand that it has nothing to do with me personally, because they were discussing this *before* they hired me. So they didn't have a face, a name, or a body to think about. It was just an empty position at that time. However, I'm upset that they never said a damn thing to me about this when they hired me. For god's sake, I probably would have taken the job anyway. But at least then, I wouldn't have felt like they took the rug out from under me, so to speak. I mean, they had me thinking long-term the whole time. It was always about my two years and wanting me to move closer. They wanted me to learn how to be a bishop's chaplain (which I'll never need to know for any other position, unless I apply to be a priest.) We were going to order an alb (the white garments that the clergy wear at almost all church functions) for me and I was going to get one of those nifty books with the hymnal and the prayer book all in one. And now, because I'm so nice, I'm trying to write up a set of notes for my successors so they know what they're doing. My predecessor left me notes, but there are some things that need revising and some things that aren't mentioned at all. I spent all morning writing about the Bishop's car and after lunch I tried to work on the information for the visitations, but it was too much for me. I mean, this stuff is the stuff that I was originally preparing so that *I'd* be able to be better prepared for the fall visitations.

And every time I think about the times that I referred to positive changes that I'd implement, I get upset. Hell, today, I realized that they're going to have to take my name off the board downstairs. There's a board by the elevator with everyone's name by their floor. A few weeks ago, we sent out a visitation schedule to all 194 parishes and the letter says to contact me specifically, Bishop's Aide, with any problems/issues/etc. Needless to say, it's rather painful.

So anyway, for those of you who are still wondering about the relevance of the subject line, my life is turning into a country song! I've lost my girl (though I'm not upset about that at all) and I've lost my job. If my dogs die and/or I start driving a pick-up truck, then I'm going to be very scared...

Tee hee?do you like the slogan I've now added to the end of my emails: "What are they going to do? Fire me?"