That day again

Today is Christmas and it's one of the quietest I've ever experienced - a calm, pleasant day of ease and reading.  I might go in to the office tomorrow for a little while as I wrap things up; at the same time, there are reports of a snowstorm due in the latter half of the day, so I may be better off working from home and grocery shopping early in the morning.  Tuesday will be my last day with this company and I have to say, I'm not as sad about it as I thought I might be.  Temp jobs are just that - temporary.  It lasted and sustained me for nine months.  And I'm very glad to be able to close this book neatly and begin my new job on Monday the 5th.  

At (almost) 61, it would be silly to say I'm excited or anticipating my new position - it's more relief and curious as to the ensuing education of it.  And, of course, having a normal paycheck again is a substantial weight off my shoulders.  I managed to weather this sometimes difficult period and enjoyed most of the temp experience, but there is greater comfort in "permanent" (for whatever it's worth now).

The year ends in a week; it was another odd one that I think best be consigned to memory, only for reference if necessary.  I wonder if it has to do with simply getting older and feeling more disconnected from so much.  It's not fatalistic or negative - it's just reality. I do remember when my bandmate, Marc, and I would talk about the year winding down as we would listen to WHTG - he (quite profoundly) would say, "it's that philosophical time again" (this started around 1985 and continued for a while) and the idea of a summarization had stayed with me until these last few years.  Now that I'm in this latter stage of life, I don't need to recap time speeding up and passing me by.

Granted, there are things I wish would, in fact, end completely and things I'm not looking forward to that are inescapable (I'm not being cryptic; I'm mired in the realities of the inevitable, impending destruction of New York City), but mostly, it's that time is going by faster and there's nothing that can be done.  

In any case, this has been a nice Christmas because it's been so still and peaceful at home.  And you cannot ask for more. 

Warmth of the cold

Sounds contradictory, but even though it's suddenly bitter cold, I've received two job offers in a 24-hour span, earlier this week.  One is a financially-formidable offer (based on the per-hour pay rate) with a large conglomerate.  This would be a contract job in a "professional" setting.  The other is a permanent-position with an annual salary for less money and a smaller staff.  It's "business casual" and it's the one I've accepted.  I can't see myself continuing in an atmosphere of heavy, constant turnover with (essentially) a temp position.  I think it best for me to have that stability.

So I think (operative word) I can exhale for the moment.  It's been a busy week as it is, and I haven't really had the chance to really absorb this very fortuitous and welcomed turnaround.  The new year will begin with/at a new job and, hopefully, a successful education as well as I learn something new.

I know there are things that I need to plan for this upcoming year with diligence and detail - finances, medical visits, etc., but for now, I would like to try and enjoy the holiday season as much as I can.  It was certainly nice yesterday, being invited to the holiday lunch with the company I've been temping for.  The food, the atmosphere and the people were wonderful.  I was able to relax and have fun with my co-workers.  

I think I will take this weekend "off" from having "stuff to do".  I'll take the car for repairs next Friday and the body work the following Monday.  I need a break!