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This past Friday, March 21st, my father retired after working 34 years for the Department of Veterans Affairs :)



I always knew what he did and that it was a bit ground breaking but it wasn't until this ceremony that I realized HOW important a role he played.



For the last 4 years he has been the Director of the Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago.



It is the first and currently only active military base and VA combined center, and my Dad played a big role in helping the project happen.





The ceremony was beautiful and rather impressive. From the color guard to the wonderfully sung National Anthem to the close to a thousand (according to the even coordinator) standing room only attendees, everything was fantastically done.





My dad and I don't get along most of the time. We have very different views on just about everything, but even though we differ I am very proud of his accomplishments.





Congrats Pops!

COMMENTS

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deringerdan
11:17 Mar 23 2014

That is an accomplishment that will last a lifetime :)

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Everything is fine...







I'm Fine. You're Fine. Everything is... Fine.







Until 3 am and I'm alone... Alone to think. Alone to relive. Alone to obsessively analyze everything on my own...







I'm not fine.





I'm no where near fine.





~ I'm stressed about money,

~ I'm stressed about my job,

~ I'm stressed about my friends,

~ I'm stressed about my health,

~ I'm stressed about my (lack of a) career path,

~ I'm stressed about... everything.



And to add the cherry on top of this stress sundae... I'm heartbroken.





It seems stupid but before... I could at least handle the mounting stresses of my life. I could see, if only in the very distant future, an end to the stresses. A solution. A way out of this stress soup... Together there was hope.



Now all I see is a swirling mass of failure threatening to suck me into oblivion.







"It's really not that bad... there are dying kids in Africa. You have so much more than them so just think about that"



Yes... thank you. That was brilliant advice. Not only is my life a mess but now I feel horrible about dying kids in another country.... Thanks.







"Well if you don't like your job just get another one! It's easy!"



Yep. It's extremely easy to go get a job! (Please note the sarcasm)



Never mind that when I was unemployed for 2 straight years, I applied and RE-applied to multiple places (*Cough* Walmart and Target being 2 major companies *Cough*) every 90 days when my application ran out. I was never called ONCE for an interview.



I have work experience in ONE area. Kennels. I've worked in animal kennels since I was 13... and that's it.



I have not a single shred of experience in anything else... and that has become a huge road block.



When I finally snapped at one rejection I asked "WHY?!" The exact response I got was "Why hire someone I have to spend extra time training in this area when there are 20 other people who already know how to do the job?"



Awesome.







I get that YOU have to go out and change the things you don't like. Reach for things you want. I get that, I really do.



But right now... in this slop of my life... I am boot strapped by things I don't have control over.



I'm doing the best I can with the cards/lemons/whatever "life" gave me... but I'm struggling. Sinking even.



I don't know what to do or how to get out... and I'm forgetting how to swim...









The hour is up... It's 4 am.... and again I'm...







Fine.

COMMENTS

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deringerdan
10:13 Mar 10 2014

**Hugs** Sleepy tight, while I cant promise all will be fine I can promise I will be by your side always as I am always part of your family..

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