Not everybody gets the chance to press the Reset button on their life, but I just did. Most people don't get to vote themselves out of a job, but I just did.
When I arrived home from work today I found a giant ass package with a letter inside. The letter asked me to approve an agreement for M&I to buy my current employer. Once the aquistion becomes final, I will have no job.
Don't feel sorry for me as I will make a substantial sum of money from this sale. Sure I lose my job, but I get more severance then more people will get in a year. On top of that I get a significant some of cash due to restricted stock that I held.
To me this is about a lot more than money or my job. This is about getting my life back in order. In July of 2007 my daughter was born on the 18th and my house was struck by lightening on the 19th. By the time our home was rebuilt the bank I worked for was sold and I had to relocate from a place that my wife and I loved to a place that offered me a raise.
There was no love for Indianapolis. There is nothing wrong with Indy, but it just doesn't feel like home to us. My wife got a job that she wasn't ecstatic about and we were content to "ride-out" our time here. Life was no longer fun. Things didn't look or smell as good, food didn't taste as good. So when I heard that my new company was going to be bought my first thought was "shit, here we go again." But this time I had restricted stock and a position that the new bank couldn't sweep under the rug. When they came to me to discuss my future, I had already been working on a backup plan. I no had a choice. I could let them move us to Milwaukee and we could continue to live a "joyless" life, or I could get them to pay me severance, sell my restricted stock, and take a job with a smaller bank in Asheville, NC.
Today I punched the Reset button that should have been marked "Joy," with the hope that this decision gets us back to a place where we can enjoy the little things once again. So, First Indiana, thanks for giving me my life back. I can't wait for December 20 to get here!
3 comments:
Asheville, NC?
Don't you mean, Downers Grove, IL?
Seriously, I hope you find happiness. And good luck moving with a baby.
I love babies. Babies are the best.
I think your problem is that when you moved to Indianapolis you left your P.M.A. (POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE) behind in Birmingham. You didn't put in the effort to fully embrace the Indianapoliciousness of your new life.
Did you ever see Rik Smits searching for a "reset" button after he was drafted by the Pacers with the second overall pick in the 1988 draft? That's right, no you didn't. He said to himself "OK Rik, it looks like you're gonna be a Hoosier. Let's do this!"** And what did he do? He promptly grew a mullet and a molestache.
Is it too soon for me to buy your daughter a banjo? I don't want the other kids picking on her for being different.
** Actually, he said something in Dutch, but I'm pretty sure I provided a fairly accurate transalation
All good points. I however went the Ron Artest route and have just been trying to produce rap albums and get in random fights. Mrs. Roker went all Stephen Jackson and is shooting up strip clubs.
I want my daughter to end up like Dallas Clark.
Post a Comment