On this day 10 years ago my dad lost his job. Pretty unremarkable right? In the wake of the events just days before, it seems like something that should be forgotten. Something that I should have left in the past. But I can’t.
For some reason, this anniversary stings more than others. I suppose finding out last week that the full entitlements will never be paid hit me harder than ever. My dad worked for an airline, one that employed whole families, one that was a community all of its own. Once you went to work there, you stayed until you retired and then your kids worked there too.
15,000 people lost their jobs that day. For us, it meant going from a single income family to nothing, in an instant. We had no idea it was coming and we first found out about it from a news report. What a way to find out you’ve lost your job!
A lot of people were worse off than us though. I’m not suggesting that we were the only ones who suffered. I can only tell it from my point of view, and what I saw was 5 very long years of looking for work and people being told that 40 was too old to “re-skill”.
I don’t know why I’m writing this, I think it’s a way for me to heal. The events of that day are long forgotten by people who weren’t left caught in the middle, but it turned my happy little 15 year old life on it’s head, and it’s shaped who I am today, and I don’t forget that.
I am grateful for all of the people who helped us through that time and I am thankful for my family.
They say that time heals all wounds, I hope they’re right.
Wow Dannielle, this really puts some perspective on the ripple effects that that day had. I am ashamed to say it didn’t occur to me how many people would have lost their jobs all around the world. I can only imagine how hard it must have been.
Thank you Sarah. Please don’t feel ashamed, unfortunately it’s just one of those things that happen. Thank you so much for reading and for commenting, it means a lot to me.x