No, This Can't Be Happening

Gregg came home today around noon, I thought he was stopping in to see how CeCe was feeling. But then he delivered the awful news that he'd been let go; his position as dispatcher was eliminated. At first I thought he was kidding, but no -- it's real -- after 34 years with the same company he's out the door. Those that know us know the name of the company and those that don't -- sorry, I'm not going to foreclose as I don't want any hard feelings between us and the company -- I know that it wasn't an easy or personal decision.

The company has been a big part of Gregg's life; he'd wake up in the middle of the night after figuring out a problem, shower and head on out regardless of the time. He was devoted to a fault. Being the great guy that he is, felt that he was responsible for making sure the customer received the best service possible and that his drivers were taken care of. Sometimes I felt as though his job was much like his mistress, as often 'she' did came first and I was a close second.

That was then, this is now -- life as we knew it has suddenly changed. The conversation at the dinner table won't start out with work stories; he and won't be telling Don about the people that he ran into that remembered Don over the years; no stopping in to make sure everything's OK while we're in the neighborhood; no calls at all hours of the night from his drivers . . . he's even going to have to change his wardrobe! No company tshirts, wow!

Gregg started working with his Dad before he got out of high school. He bought his first semi before he was old enough to have a CDL license and for a year paid a driver to drive for him. He drove both short haul and long haul; owned a small fleet of trucks; was a contract packer and dispatcher. He made some wonderful friends along the way that were shocked to hear the news. We're still receiving emails from co-workers across the country expressing their dismay at the decision.

How does someone who's spent more years working at the same company than anyone else I know (except my father) suddenly adapt to working someplace else? I'm not sure how this is all going to shake out but I am sure of one thing -- it happened for a reason. As I found out with my job elimination, he'll more than likely go through some serious soul searching and realize what he's really good at and find a position where he feels he fits. When that might be is anyone's guess.

Stay tuned -- this is going to be one interesting ride!