Erma, Grandpa, and Yussuf

"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic." Erma Bombeck

For the record, I knew that Erma died some time ago. What a great gal she was, don't you think? When she was coming out fast and furious with books and columns I was too young to appreciate her irony but remember fondly my parents reading The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank to each other one Sunday morning, roaring with laughter.

I didn't know about this quote until today but I did now that she refused any special treatment on an organ recipient list that might have slowed the progress of her cancer from which she died. I also knew that joking aside she thought that nothing much mattered by way of success if you weren't a good parent. I'm down with both those sentiments, regardless of how well I would do or live up to them.

So 10 years and 3 months after landing the longest running paying job I ever had, I'm 'out' and by definition trying something new. So far it amounts to the most disorganized electronic and actual desktop I've ever had and no idea where the time runs off to each day but relative certainty time spent including something toward securing new employment.

I had occasion to think of my maternal grandfather, whose 110th birthday it would have been on September 12 (my Mom is sure, although she might not appreciate the press on this, that this fact combined with the collaboration from my paternal grandfather in heavenly regions, helped safeguard my brother who had the misfortune of attempting to head into the World Trade Center at 9:00 for a job interview when the sound of a loud explosion prevented his entry).

My grandpa Raymond (Raimondo) 'hopped ship' at the age of 18 the story goes to come to America from poverty stricken Southern Italy. This would make the year of his entry 1917. To my knowledge he knew no one and certainly did not have any set English skills or skills of any kind having not gone to school much past elementary school.

I think of him and all his courage has provided us, his children, grandchildren and now greatgrandchildren. Was it a dream of his to come to America or was it just a chance he had that he figured he'd better take not even knowing for sure he'd have a safe passage across.

He lived to be 80, owned a home and laid the ground work for privilege that we still enjoy, even in jobless times. Sometimes I wonder what he'd say or if there is some way he somehow knows how much he is thought of and appreciated (alternating with copious periods of abject taking for granted) for the chance he did take.

Thanks to my job I made wonderful friends in Netanya, Israel who provided for their families by doing the opposite and settling in the country of their faith after having been raised in far flung English speaking countries. The courage of those decisions does not seem to be lost on their most devout children and in some cases, bevy of beautiful grandchildren who gleefully gather for holidays which don't require special permission to miss work and school.

No official interviews yet. Lots of offers to read and pass along my resume and some nervous wondering going on about the social work internship I applied for last week.

"Oh I can't keep it in, I can't keep it in, I've gotta let it out.

I've got to show the world, world's got to see, see all the love love that's in me."

Cat Stevens aka Yussuf Islam