The Whole Sha Bang!

I quit my job.  It was one of the most difficult things i had to do on so many levels but one of the biggest was that the people i work with are some of my closest friends.  Where i work(ed) we treat each other like family and we always have each others back.  We are always doing things together whether it be hanging out at work, having good times at the bars, playing jokes on each other, going to shows, etc.  I was afraid of telling my boss and co-workers that i was quitting because i didn’t want our friendships to be ruined.

I delivered the news to my boss Monday.  I was prepared to read my letter to him but my emotions took over and i started to cry.  My boss then responded to me with “I am not mad and i totally understand”; he offered nothing but comforting words and positive vibes.  He then asked “can i hear your letter?”  I told him “yes, but i don’t think i can read it to you i will have to turn away.”  He then told me “how about i read it because i don’t want to cry.” After he read the letter i knew that it got to him because he made a sigh that was accepting and sad all at the same time. 

He then asked what my plans were or if i had an idea of what i wanted to do next (job wise).  I then told him what i wanted to do.  He responded to me with “Done!  I will go upstairs and call my friend right now!”  I was excited and shocked all at once; excited because he was going to help me get the gig i wanted and shocked because i know my boss is a great guy but his helpfulness and generosity took it to a whole new level.  After this was all said and done, we knew that i would be leaving at the end of the month and the only thing left to do was to tell the rest of my co-workers and find someone to train and takeover my position.

The next day i let all of my co-workers know that this would be my last month with the company and what my plans are for my next job.  They were all understanding and very supportive.  This is all an overwhelming feeling because even though me leaving the company is a downer everyone is being nothing but positive and telling me that if i need anything from them that they are here for me.

Leaving the company is bittersweet because i am leaving to do something that is new and exciting, and at the same time i won’t be seeing my friends everyday.  I am happy to know that there are people in the world who are nice, genuine, and put their good morals and good intentions into running a business.  They are doing things the honest way and are in it to help everyone out.  Working with people like this makes it hard to leave the company; but at the same time it is a great feeling to have when everyone you work with has your back and that they are happy for you.  They also made it clear that we are still “bros” and that i can stop by anytime.

So to Joe, Bill, Johnny B, Alex, Jon, Eddie, and Thomas: thank you for making working with you guys fun and feel more like friendship and less like co-workers, and for always having my back and supporting me.  It was fun being part of the Dummy family and our last Roy’s dinner will be one of my favorite memories with you guys.  It’s going to be sad not seeing you all everyday after i leave but i know i’ll still be seeing you guys all the time.  This isn’t a goodbye its a see you later.

The one week i expect to be home every night my parents decides it’s best that i stay out here where i work (because the weather got all Kansas on Southern California).  I was like wow, really? Every time i come home my parents give me a hard time for not being there, and the one time i plan on taking a vacation from my gypsy ways they say “nah, keep playing gypsy for a while” (well not those exact words, but you get the point.)

Do you ever stop and take a minute to think of all the people that have came in and out of your life?  Or think of the people that have stuck around?  Or the people you choose to keep around? or even the people you driffted a part from so they’re not around anymore?  Everyone you know in your lifetime impacts your life in some way or another, even if  you choose not to acknowledge the difference they’ve made.

A friend of mine joined the USMC right after high school, so since we graduated we haven’t been able hang out as much.  His service term is coming to an end soon and he is over seas in Iraq finishing up his first tour; we happened to be online at the same time so we started chattin it up.  In high school we were all about partying, good times, and making (for lack of a better word) not so great decisions.  It was kind of sureal to me that in the 4 hour conversation we had I realized that we had both grown up so much and that we have matured into some awesome adults.  Even though we still try/do “party all the time” we turned out to be pretty rad people.  It was probably one of the coolest, most down to earth conversations I have ever had in my life. I felt like I actually learned something from our conversation that was intended to have no serious meaning at all.  it was the undertow of whole thing.

the conversation made me realize that no matter what happens in life you can always find something to make you smile.  It also gave me the reassurance that I need to appreciate everything i have in my life.

I appreciate my family, music (of all types), art (of all kinds), and friends (of all times).