After Tea

I attended the morning tea party to welcome back the staff of the Winchester school system and introduce the new hires at the Pearson School on Tuesday, August 27. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to take time off from work in order to attend. I saw the many happy faces of the teachers and administrators, who were refreshed and ready to start the new school year. As a member of the Winchester Board of Education, I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the staff in welcoming their new coworkers. The Superintendent gave an emotional speech announcing her departure and was given a standing ovation by the staff.

Through it all I was burdened by my own situation and by what I would be doing when I left this cheerful reunion. It was recently announced that the chain of stores that I work for is closing. I would be leaving to return to the job of helping to sell off of the last merchandise and closing the store. Sixty-five of my coworkers will soon be unemployed. My extended family will be broken up and scattered in the hope of finding new jobs.

The contrast of the two situations was remarkable. Here were people with good jobs complete with nice health care packages and guaranteed raises, while back at my place of work we are losing our incomes, insurance, and even any unused sick/ personal time.

I decided that I will go home and exchange my four-door sedan for my red sports car; I need the smile that I get when I drive it.