Nine to Five

I feel lucky. Watching the NBC Evening News last night, I was heartbroken.

The newly homeless.

Tent cities are growing in California and many cities around the U.S. Car plants in Japan are also laying off people who thought they had jobs for life, making people automatically homeless since housing comes with the job there. Some young couples there are giving up their children because they can't feed and shelter them.

I actually got a job yesterday. Full-time contract work for two months. Then perhaps an option for another project after that. I saw astounded looks on the faces of the group who were called in with me when the HR manager said to all of us -- We're happy to say you've been hired. It's almost impossible around here to get an interview, much less just be hired. It's seasonal employment, but I'll take it!

So next Monday morning, I'll be playing Dolly Parton's '9 to 5', only it'll actually be 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

But I'll be thinking of all those newly homeless people. And I'll feel lucky.