Jobs, Jobs

 

Employment in the U.S. right now is crazy.  Every day I get emails.  To me.  The oldster. "Amazon is hiring.  Great starting salary. College tuition possible."  Or, "Be your own boss.  Sign up for Door Dash, or Uber or Lyft."

Today I was sitting in the drive through when my phone rang. "Grandma, it's me," said a quivering young male voice.  "I need your help.  I've been in an accident."  My heart sank for that instant before I knew this wasn't either of my grandsons. "Can you give me your number so I can call you back?," I said.  Click. Call over.

Later, I thought: with all of the jobs out there that are begging to be filled, why did this somewhat talented young man have to choose one so terrible?  So mean?

Different Yet Alike

 

I am taking a class studying the rise and fall of Mikhail Gorbachev.  We are still at the “rise” part, but, of course, with the perspective that we know how the story ends.  It’s thus even more surprising that — while he did have power — his accomplishments were so profound.

One observation that I keep coming back to over and over is how much the power playing in Russia  is so much like what goes on here at home.  My friend Trudy, who is a classmate, says “Human nature is the same everywhere.”

Last week’s chapter contained an episode that left me laughing.  In 1988, a chemistry teacher named Nina Andreyeva, complained that the debate over the country’s Stalinist past was spreading doubt and confusion among her students leaving them upset.  She vigorously demanded that the country turn away from “repentance.”

Sound familiar?

Making it New

 

Maybe it was in the works for awhile but it seems like Facebook knew it was in a jam last week when they decided to change their name to "Meta."

I was definitely in a jam when I first thought of choosing a new name for myself.  I was hurt, sad and frustrated from a divorce . . .  and what I later understood was a yearning for something of my own that included creative achievement.

Did the new name help me turn in a new direction?

I like to think so.