The Wait Continues . . .

A week and half ago I wrote: "The beginning of a new week . . . will there finally be at least one definite answer for us?" The only answer available is, "No, there was no definite answer for us."

Perhaps I should start at the beginning: the end of June, last year (2006), since we've been waiting for our answer since then.

Just before I left for a family wedding/reunion in Penticton, British Columbia, Larry received a call from a "head-hunter" (job recruiter), asking if he would be interested in a job (in his line of work) in Southern California--our "old stompin' grounds", where we lived for 15 years and have longed to return to. He told me how difficult the job might be for him, and wasn't sure he would want to do it, so I thought no more about it. Then I left for six days to spend time with my family in Canada.

What a nice surprise to return home to the news that he told the head hunter that he was interested, and had sent in his resume. Normally he doesn't have much interest in leaving the job he has. However, this could turn out to be our ticket back to where we eventually hope to be, so he said, "Sure!" That job kept us waiting for a few weeks, but produced no results--not even a telephone interview.

While we were waiting on that one, the head hunter called again and told Larry about a job in Houston, Texas. No way, Jose! Some of our friends advised us, "You don't want to live there--it's terribly muggy and buggy!" We were not interested in moving to Texas--or so we thought, until we began to do some studying of the area, and the economics there. We decided, "Well, how bad can it be? Perhaps, as a result of living there for five years or so, we would be in really good financial shape for moving to Southern California." Larry landed a telephone interview, and another wait began. After weeks of waiting, we gave up hope on that one too.

Then the head hunter called again with news of another job in Southern California (Irvine area) -- a job that sounded just perfect for Larry, and only three miles from his family that lives there. Wow! Almost too good to be true! Once again, the wait was very long--but the many weeks of waiting also held the excitement of three interviews (two over the telephone and one on location). We were absolutely sure this was going to happen--sometime in November!

Meanwhile, during our time of waiting, it was announced that Larry's company was being shut down by the end of the year. We thought, "Isn't this amazing? God has a new job already lined up for Larry, before we even knew he would be needing it--and in Southern California, no less--land of our dreams!" But then, the wait continued, and got longer and longer with no further word--ever.

During the last couple of months of 2006 Larry was constantly searching the web for job opportunties, making contact with people in his network of business acquaintances, getting calls from other head hunters, and sending out countless resumes--all over the country (including a few more in Southern California), plus the island of St. Thomas in the Caribbean! He had a few more interviews (some even here in this area), but more of a casual nature, which produced no results, no follow-up, and no answers.

The wait continues to this day. Most of the employees at his company were let go by the end of December. Larry was one of the lucky few (half a dozen) who were kept on the payroll until January 12th. Then his employment was extended until January 26th. As of yesterday, his employment has been extended until February 9th, although there is really nothing left for him to do, and no office to go to after tomorrow.

Several weeks ago, Larry submitted a written proposal for a new position to be created by the parent company of the company that is closing. The parent company (which remains in business) is headquartered on the East Coast, but we would not be required to move. Larry would set up an office here, working from home. We are hoping this will happen, but we are still waiting on the final approval.

We are also hoping to go on vacation for a week, hoping to leave this weekend, but we haven't made any plans because we're still waiting and hoping to hear an answer to this new job. Life for us has been somewhat on hold for nearly seven months now. And, the wait continues . . .