I Went For A Walk

I went to the mall yesterday morning to walk for an hour, saw my boss who was also there walking and came home unemployed.

I couldn't make this up if I tried.

Business has been bad. The downturn doesn't seem to be righting itself in the printing industry. For the last two years he has been asking me what I think would make a difference for the shop. I've made suggestions. He came up with ideas. Not one single suggestion or idea has ever been implemented. We're a printing company with zero salespeople. . . What did he think was going to happen?

He followed me around one whole circuit of the mall yesterday morning talking. He cried. People stared. I was silent, listening, attempting to digest the fact that I came to the mall on a bright Saturday morning, full of plans for the day and instead, was faced with figuring out what the hell I'm supposed to do come Monday morning. (Technically it might be Tuesday morning. . .I asked if I was supposed to go to work on Monday. The answer was alternately no and then yes. I don't know. I'm showing up and waiting to be told to go home I guess.)

I feel terrible, not just for myself. He's a good man. He cares about the people he employs and he cares about our futures. Like any other interaction between people, a relationship is built between employer and employee. That's why it was so difficult when I left the mall yesterday morning not to say what was really on my tongue – "I'm sorry about all this too. But, I trusted you – with my house payment and my groceries and my car. Now what?"