Random happy thoughts Pt.15

I’ve been a bit of a squirrel the last few months, tucking away a large portion of my paychecks, not knowing of my contract would be extended past the 31st of this month.  I wasn’t worried about my performance.  I’ve always been a hard worker with glowing recommendations.  It’s this darn economy.

Even today, with the stock market up and confidence on the rise, the plight of the contract worker hangs on the whim of Upper Management’s budgets and feelings about the future.  (My work is specialized and I’ve been out of the field for almost a decade, so going the contract route is the only option for me at this time.  Eventually I’ll get the experience and contacts necessary to secure a steady job…but is it really “steady” anymore?)

My boss and his supervisor were ready to go all Sophie’s Choice to keep me. I’ll admit that the possiblity of being without employment has kept me up a few nights.

For some reason, I woke up at 4:30am.  You know what?  It’s really dark at 4:30.  Really dark. 

Rather than lie in bed staring at the ceiling, I took the gift of time and did a long cardio workout on the elliptical, mixed up 5 batches of cookie dough for baking later, and logged into my work computer a little early.

O Happy Day!

Right there, sitting in my Inbox, was a forwarded email proclaiming my contract would be extended for another 6 months!

Those of you who have ever had the experience of staring at your last check, or your last unemployment check, or your last anything for that matter, know the sense of relief that floods through the body at a time like this.  The weight of the world goes off the shoulders and a lightness is added to your step for the rest of the week.

OK, it’s Friday, so I’m going to have a really good weekend and celebrate.  I’m treating myself to a pair of swanky boots from Zappos.  Are these Michael Kors boots work appropriate?  Probably not!

I’m very blessed.  My job allows me to work from home part of the time and get paid a very generous rate so I can put away an emergency fund and some money for retirement.  I know not everyone gets to take conference calls in their sweat pants or run lights through the Christmas tree over their lunch hour, so I will ride this pony for as long as I can and then go back to the salt mines when this trip is over.

In 6 months.

Unless I get another extension in June of next year.  Miracles have been known to happen to me lately.  For all of its downs, 2013 has provided some significant ups as well.

It’s really important for me to look back and recognize how far I’ve come this year.  In May I was on the receiving end of countless rejection letters.  Only by the kindness of a past friend was I able to start working at my current position in July.  And that was on the day Husband #2 pulled out of the driveway after spending a week here at home. 

What’s the quote from Liz Taylor?

Put on some lipstick and pull yourself together.

I would have never guessed I had the strength to hold it together for that first day of work.  But there I was, posing for my employee ID photo (secretly praying my eyes were not too bloodshot from crying) and tacking up a picture of the kiddos who were counting on me to bring home the bacon.

Now I get to celebrate my next 6 months and map out the budget for some things I’ve been putting off.  Hello, New Roof!