Comments on: The Economic Downturn Hits Home

By: Hill Rat

Hill Rat — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:05:18 +0000

SarahMC,

Sorry to hear about your old man’s troubles. Keep in mind is that, despite our societal prejudices about age, 53 is still pretty young. BigDaddyRat (RIP) found an awesome job at the age of 60; it was a position commensurate with his age, experience, and education and happened to pay him more money than he ever made before.

I’m getting to the point in my career where I could be competing with your father (and others like him) for a job and I dare say that my experience and skills would probably come up short in that comparison. If your Pops is anything like you; tough, smart, and fierce; he’ll be just fine.

By: AuntieEm

AuntieEm — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:54:25 +0000

Oh honey, this happened to my dad about a month ago too. He’s doing odd carpentry and home improvment type jobs, but no actual steady job yet. I worry about him every day, he’s 54 and has worked har manual labor jobs his whole life, the last 18 years outside (in WI year round) so he’s kinda broken down. His knees are a mess, etc. I don’t know what he’s going to end up doing, I can’t imagine him inside at a computer (he’s never turned one on).

I hear you on the “Daddy Loans” too. My parents are great and would do anything for me, I hate to see them shaken like this.

By: Tea

Tea — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:50:12 +0000

I, too, am sorry to hear about your dad! Mine’s in the same shape. He was a long distance trucker for 35+ years and gave it up for quiet little job working as a shuttle bus driver for the company my brother, my sister-in-law, my fiance, and I all worked for. He loved it, he was less stressed out, and his health problems even lessened. The company he quit working for in order to take the bus job asked him what it would take to get him back.

When the company cut the lot of us, he couldn’t even go back to the old company – they’re slated to close up at the end of April. He’s getting cataracts and can’t drive at night, but the only thing he’s ever done is drive. He’ll be 60 in a week and a half. Who’s going to hire him?

I get the guilt thing. Any time we have a little extra spending money, we try to get my parents something they’d like, but can’t afford. Like bacon (it’s sad when bacon becomes a luxury item). How many times have my parents bailed me out after some hare-brained scheme didn’t work out quite as I had hoped?

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:34:43 +0000

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. This downturn has effected so many people. At his age he is going to have a rough time but I will keep my fingers crossed for him. Hopefully he will be able to find something that he will find full filling.

By: bluebears

bluebears — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:33:37 +0000

They wont! My friend was a basket case too and her mom told her the same thing pretty much. Although she added, “if you’re gonna worry, worry about me killing your father if he’s home driving me crazy all summer” (she’s a teacher). Big hugs!

By: SarahMC

SarahMC — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:28:13 +0000

Thanks for the support, lovies. Bluebears, I hope to dog my dad isn’t out of work for half a year! I told my mom this news was going to stress me out and she was like “oh no don’t worry,” knowing I’m the biggest worry wart on the planet. Now I envision my parents losing their house and going to live in a tent city or something. It’s just such a strange feeling, when I’ve never known a time when my dad wasn’t working for company X.

By: claire

claire — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:25:26 +0000

I’m so sorry to hear that! My boss just announced this morning that our company will be starting layoffs soon. It’s a terrible feeling.

I hope your dad finds a more enjoyable job ASAP!

By: Pilgrim Soul

Pilgrim Soul — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:15:07 +0000

(((SarahMC)))

By: JDRegent

JDRegent — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:14:48 +0000

oh i’m so sorry! how disturbing and stressful. it seems so wrong when longime employees are laid off…couldn’t they find anyone else? i hope your family finds a way to get by financially and that it turns out to be a weight lifted from your dad.

By: bluebears

bluebears — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:00:13 +0000

Sorry to hear about your dad. This happened to a friend of mines dad, company he worked at for like 25 yrs laid him off this fall (auto related). He actually felt similar though, it had become a horrible stressful place because of downturn economy etc..and they’d being cutting back for a while. He JUST found a new job like last week and started monday.