By Jim Hagarty
1989
Dear Significant Others:
Just finished your latest letter and I must say it was a good read. It also sent me a strong message that it’s time I began dialoguing more with the two of you. After all, you are the caregivers who did such a bonus job of parenting over the years and now, surely, is the time for your payback. You deserve lots of congrats.
I’ve been pretty stressed out lately, what with my new position in bleacher management at the arena, and I realize that many members of my support groups, yourselves included, have probably been impacted negatively by that. But ever since this employment thing’s been happening, I’ve been trying to get a sense of my job and it has meant there’s been little chance for me to spend much quality time with you. In short, it’s been hard for me to commit.
Here’s the Reader’s Digest version of my dilemma. Though I take home sufficient monies each week to fund my current lifestyle, I’m afraid I am in a bit of a no-win situation at work. A co-worker and I have agreed to disagree about where each of us fits in the organization and though we have held communication sessions regarding our differences, I still don’t have a feel for where the other party is coming from. The bottom line is, this conflict is impacting my wellness and I sometimes sense that I may be suffering from burnout. I just can’t seem to lighten up. It’s really bogus.
To sum up, I am currently reviewing my options, costing out employment alternatives, conducting a personal needs assessment and attempting to decide whether I can manage change in this area. I want to brief the two of you fully on possible worst-case scenarios and to finalize arrangements for some cost-effective interim funding for me. I hate to say it, but it appears as if I will need some dollars for some short-term bridge financing.
That is another reason I decided to touch base with you at this particular point in time. I thought perhaps if we networked we could brainstorm and come up with some opportunity options which might help me to access a win-win agreement between me and another employer. I could describe to you my current employment status – give you a verbal snapshot, if you will – and together we might achieve consensus on a new direction for me. Hopefully, after factoring in my goals along with my personal pluses and minuses, we can come up with a results-oriented plan of action. And then, of course, it will be up to me to go for it.
I’ll get back to you with a time frame for a possible encounter between us after I’ve finished prioritizing my current agenda. Until then, I’ll be busy with damage control at work and with developing a relationship with my latest love interest. Yesterday, we did lunch and caught a movie which, by the way, is a real must see. It was delightful. We are having a first-rate time of it, bowling, skating and doing other gender-neutral activities like that. I’ll give you the scoop on us the next time we do the getting together thing. Let’s do breakfast in the a.m. sometime. What say?
So, don’t worry, be happy. Have a good one.
And most of all,
Enjoy.
Later,
J.J.
NOTE: For those unfamiliar with yuppiespeak, here is a translation of the above letter.
Dear Folks: Expect to be fired. Need a loan. In love. Goodbye.
