It’s been a little over a month since I was laid off - or RIFed - from my job as the sportswriter for The Columbia County News-Times.
I suppose I’ve gotten some things done. I will admit I was numb for a few days even though I was still able to go through the unemployment system process and get hired as an extra for a movie being shot here in Augusta, Ga. Yes, numb, as it was the first job I’ve ever been let go from since I started working as an 11-year old paperboy. I’ve been out of work before but on my own terms.
I quit my job with Bowie State University in 2003 to move to Germany with my wife Melanie. I worked briefly as a substitute teacher for Wuerzburg American High School. It was a place to go and earn a little money but I didn’t like being placed in an advanced chemistry class where basically students led the charge. I was never much of a math or science guy. And I certainly didn’t have much to offer to a cosmetology class. I finally landed a position in the public affairs office as the assistant editor for The Point Newspaper. I enjoyed that immensely but Melanie got another job on Okinawa in 2007 and off we went.
Jobs were really scarce there but eventually I began working freelance for This Week On Okinawa, a Japanese-owned weekly. While doing that I got my personal trainer license and started sessions at the base gym on Kadena Air Base. At the end of 2009 Melanie got another great job opportunity based out of Augusta on Fort Gordon and again it was time to go.
So now I found myself in much the same position in about the same time frame as I was in 2010. I’ll be working security for The Masters in a month and a half and I’m hoping to catch on for some seasonal employment with the Augusta Greenjackets. Back in 2010 I tried to work security for The Masters but my security check was difficult to process and I missed out, although I did work the 2011 tournament. I did work for the Greenjackets in 2010 as the mascot Auggie, but wrangled far less strenuous work as a concessionaire in 2011.
So, what’s next? No way to tell at this point as I’m throwing resumes locally, nationally and internationally. I assume at some point something will stick. In the meantime, I’m getting to spend much more time with my son Connor and I’ll delve into that in later posts. Work at the paper allowed for a certain amount of flexibility of schedule but now I can get things accomplished without stressing about a looming deadline. Things like taking the first week after being relieved of my office key to take care of a sick child, take the dog to the vet or take a still under warranty vacuum cleaner to the repair shop.
I’ll take it one step at a time and see what excitement comes my way this week.