Here's something you might be interested in.
In September of 2011, I was living and working in my home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I had been working nearly five years in the IT department of a health care company. I worked long hours at times, but being single with no kids meant when I wasn't working my time was my own. My best friend and co-worker Jordan and I had requested time off several months earlier to take a trip over the Labor day weekend. With time off approved, flights and hotel booked, we were set.
When the day finally came, we arrived at the airport early, got on our flight and we were off to Las Vegas. Once we touched down in Sin City we grabbed a cab, got to our hotel on the strip, dropped our bags and we were sitting pool side in no time. After a few drinks at the pool bar, what was shaping up to be a pretty good day got even a little bit better when we met Amanda and Anna -”Vegas baby”. Turns out they had just flown in from San Diego and would be staying in the same hotel for the weekend. The physical attraction between Anna and I was immediate and obvious. As soon as we began talking, it was as if we had known each other for years. When it was time to leave, they mentioned that they were planning on going dancing at the club in the hotel later and hoped to see us there.
After dinner Jordan and I went to the spot were Anna and Amanda said they would be. The four of us checked out a couple of bars and another club together. Between stops Jordan managed to win about four hundred bucks and we all partied until just before the sun came up. When we got back to our hotel, we all exchanged numbers and agreed that after some time to recuperate, we would meet up again. Jordan and I staggered up to our rooms feeling like our first day of vacation couldn't have gone much better. By the time I got to my room I was too tired to even get undressed, so I just slept in my clothes.
I was wrestled out of my coma-like sleep by my cellphone ringing. I didn't answer, but the need to see who had called wouldn't leave me alone long enough for me to get back to sleep. I reached over the side of the bed to retrieve my cell from the floor where it had fallen. I didn't recognize the number but there was a message. “Anna!” I thought, so I checked my voice mail. The message was from Shelia the IT director from work (my boss's boss).
“Hello Daniel. This is Shelia Copeland, I'm really sorry to contact you on your vacation but I really need you to join in on a conference call later this afternoon.”
She left a number and a time to call. I'm often called upon to sit in on meetings and conference calls but never during my time off. I was still buzzed and exhausted from the night's activities but I just couldn't get back to sleep. I laid there, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out what could be so important that it couldn't wait until I got back. I had a few hours before the conference call so I thought I should try and completely sober up. I dragged myself to the shower and let the hot water wash over me for almost an hour. Eventually the time came for the call and I nervously dialed in.
“Hello, Daniel's on the call” I said and then I was greeted by an unfamiliar voice.
“Hi Daniel, this is Maggie Hommeland from the HR department and Shelia Copeland is on the call as well”. Sheila immediately chimes in.
“Daniel I'm really sorry to have to do this while you're on vacation but this morning I was informed that the company is going to be doing some restructuring because of the economy and we have to downsize by ten percent company-wide. This means that almost every department in the company will need to lay-off some of their employees.”
“...and I'm part of that ten percent?” I asked
“Unfortunately you are. I really wish I could have spoken with you about this before you left for your vacation, but I wasn't sure at that time this conversation would be necessary.”
There was a brief silence while I was letting this information sink in. I had things I wanted to say and questions I wanted to ask but nothing came out. I remained silent.
“There will be a severance package mailed out to you soon.”
Maggie added, “Along with that, all of the information you'll need about unemployment and COBRA insurance, etc. will be in it. I'll put one of my business cards in so if you have any questions about anything you can just give me a call.”
“And Daniel” Sheila said, “this is not a reflection on the job you've done for us, it's the economy. I know you'll find something else soon and if you ever need a recommendation, just let me know.”
After the call, I sat on the bed barely sober and stunned by what had just happened. I had never heard of a person getting laid-off while on vacation before. A little while later Jordan came over to my room, he had already heard about the lay-offs but was shocked to find out that I was one of the people. I was happy that Jordan hadn't lost his job too, but honestly I was kind of embarrassed that he obviously meant more to our department than I did. I started thinking about calling the airline, changing my ticket and heading home early. However Jordan wasn't going to let our trip die.
“I know this is a kick in the hard drive man,” he started “but cutting your vacation short is not going to change anything. You had money set aside for this trip and we're already here. Plus, I won a little cash last night so you're good. Try to have a good time now and deal with the drama when you get back.”
All good points, but after losing my only source of income, large bar tabs, expensive meals and gambling didn't seem like the right move. But Jordan continued...
“Besides I know you don't want to leave until you find out what Anna is all about.”
It took a little more convincing, but eventually I figured it might be a while before I got a chance to party in Vegas again so I decided to stay.
Jordan and I met up with Amanda and Anna, and for the next two and a half days, Anna and I were basically inseparable. Things between us just seemed to flow. For some reason, talking to this women I barely knew about things I wouldn't even tell some of my friends felt okay. Being with her even made losing my job not seem like the end of the world. It was a strange feeling being so open, but with Anna it felt natural. Our chemistry was so strong that when it was time to head back to Milwaukee, I decided to take Anna up on her offer to head to San Diego with her instead. I changed my ticket. I had never done anything as crazy as flying somewhere I had never been, with a woman I really didn't know. But suddenly finding myself without a job, for the first time in my adult life, I had the freedom to just roll like nothing else mattered.
Jordan smiled and told me I was crazy as we said our good-byes at the airport.
Now, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous, but I had always heard great things about San Diego and this seemed like the right time to find out for myself. Really, more than anything, I wanted to learn more about Anna. The first thing I learned when we landed at the airport was that Amanda was married. (Whatever happens in Vegas...)
As we left the airport I was struck by the amazing view of downtown as we drove along the Embarcadero. Anna immediately put on her tour guide hat and we drove over to Coronado. The bay-side view of downtown is picturesque as any view of any city I've ever seen. We had lunch at the Hotel Del and after we sat on the beach and talked. We eventually got back to her apartment in Mission Valley. I stayed in San Diego with Anna for a week. She worked from home in the morning while I slept and the rest of the day she showed me her favorite parts of San Diego. She introduced me to burgers at Hodad's (best burger I've ever had), pizza at NYPD and burritos at Tacos El Gordo in Chula Vista. We watched sunsets at Sunset Cliffs, went to a Padres game and had dinner in the Gaslamp. I was like a little kid again when Anna told me that San Diego still has drive-ins. The drive-ins I loved as a kid in Milwaukee had closed several years ago, so I really enjoyed going to the Santee drive-in.
By the end of the week, I had fallen in love with this city. I didn't want to leave Anna and I didn't want to leave San Diego. As I got on the plane back to the mid-west, I had already decided that I would be back. Once I started my job search, I never even looked for jobs in Milwaukee. I only applied for jobs in San Diego. I came back to visit a couple of times to see Anna and for interviews, and it was better each time. Finally, after nearly seven months, I got a job in San Diego. My relationship with Anna has continued to grow, so much so that we bought a condo together in Little Italy and next summer we're getting married. People often say that everything happens for a reason and I had never really given it much thought. But I now have to admit that what seemed to be a major set-back in my life actually turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. Because I now live in the finest city in America with the love of my life.
In September of 2011, I was living and working in my home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I had been working nearly five years in the IT department of a health care company. I worked long hours at times, but being single with no kids meant when I wasn't working my time was my own. My best friend and co-worker Jordan and I had requested time off several months earlier to take a trip over the Labor day weekend. With time off approved, flights and hotel booked, we were set.
When the day finally came, we arrived at the airport early, got on our flight and we were off to Las Vegas. Once we touched down in Sin City we grabbed a cab, got to our hotel on the strip, dropped our bags and we were sitting pool side in no time. After a few drinks at the pool bar, what was shaping up to be a pretty good day got even a little bit better when we met Amanda and Anna -”Vegas baby”. Turns out they had just flown in from San Diego and would be staying in the same hotel for the weekend. The physical attraction between Anna and I was immediate and obvious. As soon as we began talking, it was as if we had known each other for years. When it was time to leave, they mentioned that they were planning on going dancing at the club in the hotel later and hoped to see us there.
After dinner Jordan and I went to the spot were Anna and Amanda said they would be. The four of us checked out a couple of bars and another club together. Between stops Jordan managed to win about four hundred bucks and we all partied until just before the sun came up. When we got back to our hotel, we all exchanged numbers and agreed that after some time to recuperate, we would meet up again. Jordan and I staggered up to our rooms feeling like our first day of vacation couldn't have gone much better. By the time I got to my room I was too tired to even get undressed, so I just slept in my clothes.
I was wrestled out of my coma-like sleep by my cellphone ringing. I didn't answer, but the need to see who had called wouldn't leave me alone long enough for me to get back to sleep. I reached over the side of the bed to retrieve my cell from the floor where it had fallen. I didn't recognize the number but there was a message. “Anna!” I thought, so I checked my voice mail. The message was from Shelia the IT director from work (my boss's boss).
“Hello Daniel. This is Shelia Copeland, I'm really sorry to contact you on your vacation but I really need you to join in on a conference call later this afternoon.”
She left a number and a time to call. I'm often called upon to sit in on meetings and conference calls but never during my time off. I was still buzzed and exhausted from the night's activities but I just couldn't get back to sleep. I laid there, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out what could be so important that it couldn't wait until I got back. I had a few hours before the conference call so I thought I should try and completely sober up. I dragged myself to the shower and let the hot water wash over me for almost an hour. Eventually the time came for the call and I nervously dialed in.
“Hello, Daniel's on the call” I said and then I was greeted by an unfamiliar voice.
“Hi Daniel, this is Maggie Hommeland from the HR department and Shelia Copeland is on the call as well”. Sheila immediately chimes in.
“Daniel I'm really sorry to have to do this while you're on vacation but this morning I was informed that the company is going to be doing some restructuring because of the economy and we have to downsize by ten percent company-wide. This means that almost every department in the company will need to lay-off some of their employees.”
“...and I'm part of that ten percent?” I asked
“Unfortunately you are. I really wish I could have spoken with you about this before you left for your vacation, but I wasn't sure at that time this conversation would be necessary.”
There was a brief silence while I was letting this information sink in. I had things I wanted to say and questions I wanted to ask but nothing came out. I remained silent.
“There will be a severance package mailed out to you soon.”
Maggie added, “Along with that, all of the information you'll need about unemployment and COBRA insurance, etc. will be in it. I'll put one of my business cards in so if you have any questions about anything you can just give me a call.”
“And Daniel” Sheila said, “this is not a reflection on the job you've done for us, it's the economy. I know you'll find something else soon and if you ever need a recommendation, just let me know.”
After the call, I sat on the bed barely sober and stunned by what had just happened. I had never heard of a person getting laid-off while on vacation before. A little while later Jordan came over to my room, he had already heard about the lay-offs but was shocked to find out that I was one of the people. I was happy that Jordan hadn't lost his job too, but honestly I was kind of embarrassed that he obviously meant more to our department than I did. I started thinking about calling the airline, changing my ticket and heading home early. However Jordan wasn't going to let our trip die.
“I know this is a kick in the hard drive man,” he started “but cutting your vacation short is not going to change anything. You had money set aside for this trip and we're already here. Plus, I won a little cash last night so you're good. Try to have a good time now and deal with the drama when you get back.”
All good points, but after losing my only source of income, large bar tabs, expensive meals and gambling didn't seem like the right move. But Jordan continued...
“Besides I know you don't want to leave until you find out what Anna is all about.”
It took a little more convincing, but eventually I figured it might be a while before I got a chance to party in Vegas again so I decided to stay.
Jordan and I met up with Amanda and Anna, and for the next two and a half days, Anna and I were basically inseparable. Things between us just seemed to flow. For some reason, talking to this women I barely knew about things I wouldn't even tell some of my friends felt okay. Being with her even made losing my job not seem like the end of the world. It was a strange feeling being so open, but with Anna it felt natural. Our chemistry was so strong that when it was time to head back to Milwaukee, I decided to take Anna up on her offer to head to San Diego with her instead. I changed my ticket. I had never done anything as crazy as flying somewhere I had never been, with a woman I really didn't know. But suddenly finding myself without a job, for the first time in my adult life, I had the freedom to just roll like nothing else mattered.
Jordan smiled and told me I was crazy as we said our good-byes at the airport.
Now, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit nervous, but I had always heard great things about San Diego and this seemed like the right time to find out for myself. Really, more than anything, I wanted to learn more about Anna. The first thing I learned when we landed at the airport was that Amanda was married. (Whatever happens in Vegas...)
As we left the airport I was struck by the amazing view of downtown as we drove along the Embarcadero. Anna immediately put on her tour guide hat and we drove over to Coronado. The bay-side view of downtown is picturesque as any view of any city I've ever seen. We had lunch at the Hotel Del and after we sat on the beach and talked. We eventually got back to her apartment in Mission Valley. I stayed in San Diego with Anna for a week. She worked from home in the morning while I slept and the rest of the day she showed me her favorite parts of San Diego. She introduced me to burgers at Hodad's (best burger I've ever had), pizza at NYPD and burritos at Tacos El Gordo in Chula Vista. We watched sunsets at Sunset Cliffs, went to a Padres game and had dinner in the Gaslamp. I was like a little kid again when Anna told me that San Diego still has drive-ins. The drive-ins I loved as a kid in Milwaukee had closed several years ago, so I really enjoyed going to the Santee drive-in.
By the end of the week, I had fallen in love with this city. I didn't want to leave Anna and I didn't want to leave San Diego. As I got on the plane back to the mid-west, I had already decided that I would be back. Once I started my job search, I never even looked for jobs in Milwaukee. I only applied for jobs in San Diego. I came back to visit a couple of times to see Anna and for interviews, and it was better each time. Finally, after nearly seven months, I got a job in San Diego. My relationship with Anna has continued to grow, so much so that we bought a condo together in Little Italy and next summer we're getting married. People often say that everything happens for a reason and I had never really given it much thought. But I now have to admit that what seemed to be a major set-back in my life actually turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. Because I now live in the finest city in America with the love of my life.