The past month has been a difficult one. First, the company I had been working for announced that its Knoxville facility would be closing over the next few months. It wouldn’t have been so upsetting if I had hated my job, but I loved it. I had spent nine years giving my all to ensure the company’s success. I always thought that I’d retire from there.
Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t leave my life to chance. So, in true Tish fashion, I made a choice to find another job right away. And find another job I did. Despite a struggling economy, I had a great offer from a rapidly growing professional employer organization within two weeks. I gave a two week notice to my old employer and did my best to finish up as much work as I could before leaving.
A week after turning in my notice, I lost my sweet Cruella. It was by far the most traumatizing event I have experienced. God had entrusted me with her care for nearly eight years, and I never took that responsibility lightly. The last three years of her life had been tough – full of surgeries, medications, and numerous hospital stays. But I did all I could to keep her healthy and happy. And she did all she could to be there for her loving mommy. She was the greatest blessing I have ever known, and I will grieve her loss always.
I just finished my first week of work at the new company. Though I’m still in the same field, my position is much different from the last. I am enjoying it very much so far, but there is still so much to learn! I do hope that I’ll be able to contribute much to the company’s future success.
Molly is doing well, and I am so thankful to have her. She and I don’t have as close a bond as Cruella and I had, but I still love her very much. She is a good girl, and she misses her sister like crazy.
I feel like my entire life has changed over the course of the last five weeks – almost like one life has ended and another has begun. A guy in church told me that I’m writing the next chapter of my life, and I like that explanation much better. May this next chapter be full of life, love, and happiness!
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:40 am
That is quite the start to a new year. Don’t ever say your life is boring, Tish! And the “next chapter in your life” is a great way to sum it up. Just remember that we always learn and grow from our experiences, and the old adage is true: Whatever doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. So just consider your last chapter as toughing you up even more.
Wishing you countless more chapters in your life; hopefully most of them real good and happy.
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:55 pm
I like that expression. I hope the next chapter in your life is full of happiness and wonderful things, and I know you and Molly will continue to take good care of each other.
April 11th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Without sadness there is no happiness. No matter what we do or how we do it sadness is going to happen but I have a feeling your life will always be full of love and mostly happiness. In my book that means you are one special person. You won’t ever get past Cruella’s passing but you will come to terms with it eventually.Hang in there Tish.
April 25th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Without sadness there is no happiness. No matter what we do or how we do it sadness is going to happen but I have a feeling your life will always be full of love and mostly happiness. In my book that means you are one special person. You won’t ever get past Cruella’s passing but you will come to terms with it eventually.Hang in there Tish.
April 26th, 2010 at 1:42 am
That is quite the start to a new year. Don’t ever say your life is boring, Tish! And the “next chapter in your life” is a great way to sum it up. Just remember that we always learn and grow from our experiences, and the old adage is true: Whatever doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. So just consider your last chapter as toughing you up even more.
Wishing you countless more chapters in your life; hopefully most of them real good and happy.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:05 am
Without sadness there is no happiness. No matter what we do or how we do it sadness is going to happen but I have a feeling your life will always be full of love and mostly happiness. In my book that means you are one special person. You won’t ever get past Cruella’s passing but you will come to terms with it eventually.Hang in there Tish.
April 26th, 2010 at 8:30 am
I like that expression. I hope the next chapter in your life is full of happiness and wonderful things, and I know you and Molly will continue to take good care of each other.
April 26th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
I like that expression. I hope the next chapter in your life is full of happiness and wonderful things, and I know you and Molly will continue to take good care of each other.
April 27th, 2010 at 6:46 am
I like that expression. I hope the next chapter in your life is full of happiness and wonderful things, and I know you and Molly will continue to take good care of each other.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:39 am
That is quite the start to a new year. Don’t ever say your life is boring, Tish! And the “next chapter in your life” is a great way to sum it up. Just remember that we always learn and grow from our experiences, and the old adage is true: Whatever doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. So just consider your last chapter as toughing you up even more.
Wishing you countless more chapters in your life; hopefully most of them real good and happy.
April 28th, 2010 at 12:14 am
That is quite the start to a new year. Don’t ever say your life is boring, Tish! And the “next chapter in your life” is a great way to sum it up. Just remember that we always learn and grow from our experiences, and the old adage is true: Whatever doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. So just consider your last chapter as toughing you up even more.
Wishing you countless more chapters in your life; hopefully most of them real good and happy.
April 28th, 2010 at 1:41 am
That is quite the start to a new year. Don’t ever say your life is boring, Tish! And the “next chapter in your life” is a great way to sum it up. Just remember that we always learn and grow from our experiences, and the old adage is true: Whatever doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. So just consider your last chapter as toughing you up even more.
Wishing you countless more chapters in your life; hopefully most of them real good and happy.