Sunday, January 29, 2006

Cowboy Up

So much for plan A. 5 months ago I got lucky and landed a new job – a part time job that paid enough to cover my budget if I was really careful. And 4 months ago I finally left the high stress job I had been at for almost 7 years. I had been quite enjoying this part time life and the rest I was getting that my body and mind so sorely needed.

Then last week, my supervisor came to me and offered me temporary fulltime work. 40 hours a week and eligible for overtime. It looks like a short-term gig, so I took it. It’s a very rare opportunity for someone at my seniority level, but I guess I was the only one left who could help them out of a bind. Besides, it’s a way to make a bit of extra money, and as my Grandpa used to say, “Make hay while the sun shines.”

So, this past week was my first fulltime week of work in almost 4 months, and it went pretty well. Slept 11 hours today, but other than that it went pretty well. On top of that, 3 days in and they asked me to stay late, so I got overtime too. How ‘bout that…

It’s nice to actually have a job I don’t mind going to, that pays well, and is pretty low stress when all things are considered. When you hear of places like GM and Ford and many other places that seem to weekly lay off thousands of workers, I feel very fortunate indeed to just be employed, let alone have something that is pretty decent.

It remains to be seen how long this fulltime thing will last, but it’s been interesting the turns my life has taken in the last 6 months. Who knows where it’ll go next, but I think I’ll enjoy the ride…

I was six years old, my brother was ten
One July day he come runnin’ in
Seen a Ferris wheel at the edge of town
So of course we headed on down

It took us an hour to walk that far
Carryin’ our fortune in a mason jar
It was all pretty sad, a cheap county fair
With a few old rides, but there was ponies there

Well, the ponies stunk and the air was still
In that dusty circle behind the Ferris wheel
And this old guy smelling’ of smoke and rum
Swung me up and set me down on one

Well I’d never rode a horse but I’d seen it done
Cowboy movies made it look like fun
This old man whispered a few soft words
It was the best advice I ever heard

Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high
Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky
And live like you ain’t afraid to die
And don’t be scared, just enjoy the ride.

I went up a kid with shakin’ hands
But I came down a full-grown man
It’s like he’d cast some voodoo spell
Things were different for me now, I could tell

‘Cause whenever troubles came wanderin’ in
His rhyme would pop in my head again
And somehow I rode through the needles and nails
And brambles and thorns, that life entails

Well I know someday farther down the road
I’ll come to the edge of the great unknown
There’ll stand a black horse, riderless
And I’ll wonder if I’m ready for this

I’ll saddle him up, he’ll swish his tail
I’ll tip my hat and bid farewell
And I’ll lift my song into the air
That I learned at that dusty fair

Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high
Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky
And live like you ain’t afraid to die

And don’t be scared, just enjoy your ride.
---The Ride, sung by Chris Ledoux
Written by Sonny Tillis & Sam Weedman

Comments on "Cowboy Up"

 

Blogger Eaglewing said ... (January 29, 2006 4:14 PM) : 

Nooooo!! Does this mean I have to take another whole day of orientation?! ;-)

Checked out the site for that movie. Looks kinda funny...

 

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