Who's Eaten My Lunch? What Unemployment Can Feel Like.

I had my heart broken this morning and I will tell you why. I have an acquaintance who works in the tourism sector. She and I met about a year ago. She seemed so simple and kind and that attracted me immediately. She talked to me about the place where she worked and suggested that I take time to spend a vacation there. I did nothing immediately, but did visit the place. It was lovely and had such Caribbean charm. I then had no contact with the lady again.

Almost 18 months after we first met, our paths crossed again. Immediately, she was on my case again about spending a vacation. I was still not agreeable, but decided to go to her place of work and have lunch with a friend and her children. We all had a great time and the staff were so kind, in the way they treated us like family. I agreed to spend the weekend and booked up there and then. The weekend was spent with another pair of couples whom we had never met before, but my acquaintance thought would be a good fit. She was right.

The weekend was pure relaxation and mostly laughter and fun. The weekend extended into Monday, as we were having such a good time. I was now ready to convince all of my friends that this was THE place to go and spend a few days and get spa-ed, etc. I never had that but those I know who did said it was amongst the best.

I had to meet this acquaintance over the weekend as we had some things to discuss and I was in her neighbourhood. We made a plan for another vacation later this year and I was going to set up about 5-6 couples to make up the party. I even mentioned it to one lady during my daughter's birthday party this weekend--she was very excited at the prospect.

Then, in the wee hours of last night, I got an e-mail. It said in so many words, "Ive been fired!" I could not believe it. This person is the backbone of the place. What little that I know about the tourism industry tells me that the profit margins are thin and further cost cutting is now very difficult. But, this is the kind of thing where people have to bite back. I do not know how that will happen, but one way is that those who are friends of the newly unemployed will start to boycott the place where she worked and send a message to friends to do the same.

Maybe it takes the smoke of some one's life going up in flames to make you realise how fast fire can spread. I'm lucky. I do not work for anyone any more, and have been saying to people that unemployment brings wonderful opportunities. I now have to convince my friend--because she is that, not just an acquaintance--that this is real.

I know she has faith and will trust in God to see her through, but a little human help wont go amiss.