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About a year ago, my husband Jim and I moved from the west coast of Florida to a charmingly small town in central Florida. We were still reeling from financial loss through selling our home and the downturn of the stock market. Our hearts were heavy with disappointment and fear.
I vividly remember all the years Jim worked two jobs so that we could buy stock and save money for our retirement. How tired he would be but he kept up the pace and I worked as well, trying to build a safe and happy future. Through all of this, we reared four lovely and successful daughters. (When they were growing up, they would take turns helping their Dad with his second job, which was washing mobile homes).
It was and still is very difficult to not think about what might have been. After all, hadn't we worked and planned for the future? We never took vacations; we obeyed all the rules and always paid our bills. Our fico score was over the top. How could this happen to us? What about all the people our age who took cruises and never saved a dime? Was this fair?
However, we soon realized that remembering what was didn't help our healing process and it also blocked us from thinking rationally about the future.
We used our last bit of cash on the moving expenses and settled in to our new home. . There was no new furniture bought, nor any new decorations. We just used everything that we had and made it fit. We sold one of our cars, turned in our cell phones and cut expenses as much as possible
Although we felt broken, we forced ourselves to go to neighborhood gatherings, never revealing what we had been through. Everyone was very friendly. We rediscovered playing cards and various games. I started walking about four miles a day. The days soon turned into weeks.
As we all know, the economy began to get even worse. Our savings dwindled. Then came the harsh reality that our "golden years" were not going to be that "golden." We had never planned on living on Social Security alone but now maybe that would be our fate.
Since we now only had one car, I decided I would be the one to go to work. My background was in the medical field (medical billing, insurance, etc). Since this was a small town and jobs were few, I could not get a job in my field. Even retail jobs were very limited.
One day my friend from Indonesia asked me if I would help her market some homemade soap sachets and hand-made jewelry. She could speak English very well, but sometimes people could not understand her because of her accent.
We went to our downtown area where there were quite a few shops in great old buildings from years ago. The first place we went to was a classic tearoom. The inside looked like a garden, draped with Ivy. The colorful tablecloths were then set off by white lacy place mats. There were china cups and saucers at each place setting. The front part, when you first walk in was an intimate gift shop. It was called The Angel Tea Room. (It is still there in Dade City, Florida). I breathed deeply, taking in the peacefulness and charm that emitted from the Tea Room.
Fortunately, it was a Saturday and one of the owners, Brenda was working at the Tea Room that day. I presented my friend's homemade items in my best "selling" voice and to our surprise, she loved them and wanted the sachets exclusively for the Tea Room. We were delighted.
I heard myself ask Brenda if she needed anyone to help in the Tea Room. (I had never done any serving.) She said she wasn't sure about hiring right now but she took my name and telephone number. I was halfway glad because I was inexperienced and still had hope of getting a really good paying job in the medical field.
I still searched for jobs in my field, confident that the recession really couldn't keep someone like me who had lots of experience and a clean resume from finding a well-paying job. However, fate did not present me with employment at the local hospital nor with physicians or medical billing companies.
A few weeks passed and Brenda did have her manager call me. The job was offered. My thoughts were bittersweet. I knew I had to try it, even though I was inexperienced but also I felt a tinge of excitement at the possibility of earning money and perhaps even enjoying it.
It was hard work but the charming eclectic atmosphere gave me a balance and peace of mind. I vowed to myself to not be a "victim." I wasn't going to make tons of money but I could take baby steps towards survival and hope. The days gently rolled into weeks and somehow the manager patiently made me into a "tea enthusiast" and server. I found myself excitedly telling customers about a new tea and truly enjoying taking care of their needs while serving.
I had always wanted to write. (I had written a few things and placed them on the Internet . I never got paid for them and there were few comments, so I didn't know if I had any talent or not.)
Maybe it was because I was doing something entirely different at The Angel Tea Room or maybe it was just time.....time for me to jump into unknown territory. At any rate, something happened. Something inside of me that had been nearly dormant rose up. My boldness hi-jacked me and I found myself talking to a local newspaper about doing some freelance work.. I slipped Ann, the Editor one of my freshly computer-made business cards that read: Francine Larson, Free-Lance Writer. The card also revealed my hand-made web site, which touted some of the free articles.
Surprisingly, I did get that writing job with the Pasco Shopper. It seemed that Ann was preparing to put out a Welcome Home edition. I was assigned 4 articles. It was a paying job! I was so thrilled, I would have done it for free. That resulted in my regular column, The Dollar Stretch. The day I had my picture taken for the column, I had a hard time getting my head out of the clouds. I thought to myself, if I die now. it is OK.
It may not be a known fact, but writing is not a way to get rich unless you are a writer of a best seller. Also, working at the Tea Room did not make me wealthy. When you feel that you long to do something with our without being paid, you have made a great discovery. The point I would like to make is, I reinvented myself, I evolved! I say this in a most humble way and thank God and the universe for these opportunities.
Maybe times of economic stress and huge changes in our life cause us to find our true selves and where we truly belong. Just maybe our real self has many layers that naturally peel off in times of stress. During this economic downfall we must all get in touch with our spiritual side and do what our true authentic self desires. It may be a new career, a new location or a life-style change, but the transition to the other side is a good thing. You become your real self.
" Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. Once you become Real, you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always." ( from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams).
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» left by Brianna Popsickle (5 days 20 hours ago.)
Thanks for sharing your very inspirational story Fran. There are many people facing the task of 'reinventing themselves' and you've shown them it can be done!
Thank you for the inspiration Fran! I have wanted to be a writer my whole life but always found excuses and reasons why I couldn't pursue it (fear of rejection). Reading your story gave me another nudge towards my dreams! Respond to this comment
Lisa, thank you. I tried to leave a comment on your "Butterfly Effect." but it wouldn't let me. It said not to leave my url with comment. (I didn't do that).Just wanted you to know something is not working right. Anyway, The Butterfly Affect" is absolutely beautiful. You have talent..keep writing. Fran Larson
Lisa, I think it is OK now. I think it was just congested because of traffic this morning. Fran
I love your story, Fran. Thanks for sharing it with us. I know there is a temptation to become bitter when things don't go as planned. Bravo to you and your husband for making the best of it!
Anthony, I hope and pray that something positive will come out of this...it alreayd has - you are focusing on your web site. Who knows what may come of this...hang in there...I am rooting for you so much...Fran Larson
Great story and very inspirational! I think this time in the economy could be great for many people. This may be a time when they can reconsider and think about what they originally wanted out of life and go after it.
I wrote for a small country weekly newspaper for four years. I wrote all kinds of columns, from covering half a dozen hill towns' politics, to my own A&E column. I got the job pretty much the way you did. I was a jobless web programmer, I called the newspaper, brought some stories to the editor to look at. Took some initial assignments the other reporters didn't want. Before too long, I was doing pretty well. I never dreamed I would have met some of the famous people that I did before writing. Now, when I tell somebody I'm a writer, or a journalist, they will proceed to tell me their life story.
I loved that job. Paid crap, but I learned that pay isn't the same as job satisfaction. I don't write professionally any more, but once a freelancer, always a freelancer. I can go to any art opening or fashion show or concert, tell them I am writing a review, and bingo, I'm in.
And yes, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to have done it.
Sounds like you have an interesting life as a freelancer. I really haven't pursued it that much...sometimes I want to do more and sometimes I just don't care...wierd..huh?
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