Lately there have been some big changes looming in my life, which has led me to think about transition songs…
A lot of big things have been happening lately. My husband, Bill, is about to retire from the Army. He’s held a commission for about 30 years and simply isn’t allowed to stay in the military any longer. He has reached his “MRD”, that is, his mandatory retirement date. Naturally, it’s a little nervewracking and scary to end a 30 year military career (27 of which were years spent on active duty). It’s nervewracking for me, too, because being an Army wife has sort of had a deleterious effect on the career I had planned for myself. It’s worked out fine so far, and I’ve gotten to do a lot of things I love to do. But the constant moving hasn’t been so good for my own career plans and I may end up having to start over. So, in the interest of making myself feel better, I’ve decided today’s post will be about transition songs.
The Silhouettes sang “Get A Job” in the 1950s. I certainly hope that’s what comes next in this transitional phase.
Personally, I’m also kind of partial to Ken Turetzky’s song, “Why Don’t You Get a Job”…
Having corresponded with Ken online, I know he knows intimately about this subject…
At the beginning of the above clip, Ken talks about his father telling him he should stop “sponging” off him and his mother. I have had similar conversations with my own parents. Sadly, they are no longer in a position to host me, Bill, and our two dogs. So if unemployment lingers, there could be a problem. We might end up living in a van down by the river.
I heard Ronnie Dunn’s song, “Cost of Livin’” on an episode of Dr. Phil.
I think this song is very applicable to a lot of folks… especially people like Bill who have been in the military.
Our situation is not as desperate as the one Dunn sings about in this song. Job hunting can be stressful and difficult, though. Also, Bill has been in the situation Dunn sings about. Back in the mid 90s, when he was married to his ex wife, Bill temporarily got off active duty. It was at a time somewhat like what the military is dealing with right now. Things were being downsized and people were being asked to leave. Bill’s ex didn’t like being an Army wife and Bill wasn’t that successful as a young officer. So he got out of the Army temporarily… and ended up in a factory in Arkansas making toys. The money was not really enough to support their family. The work was boring and unfulfilling and it left him little time to spend with his family. He later got a job at a Whirlpool factory making refrigerator doors. The money was significantly better there, but it still really wasn’t enough and they ended up in dire financial straits. This, even though he is a graduate of American University with a degree in international relations. Needless to say, he doesn’t want the same thing to happen this time. I don’t think it will, though. He’s come a long way… and this time, his wife is willing to move where the right work is.
At this point, it looks like we could be moving again. Tomorrow, Bill is going to New York City, where he will meet with a recruiter from a large company to interview for a job in Seattle, Washington. It seems kind of ironic to me, since when Bill got out of the Army in the 90s, he was in Washington State. He loved living up there, but his ex wife preferred a small town in the south. So if this works out, he’ll get to enjoy Washington again. I think I will, too. I have only been there once. It was in 2005, right after Hurricane Katrina. Bill had been working hard because he’s in the National Guard and the Guard was heavily into the Katrina disaster. We were worried we would have to cancel our plans. Fortunately, we were allowed to go to Washington for our modest vacation. It was our first trip as a married couple and we had a wonderful time. I certainly wouldn’t mind moving there, if that’s where life takes us. San Antonio is fine too, as long as we aren’t homeless.
I never thought this song by Public Image Ltd would mean anything to me…
Anyway, wish us luck. If this interview leads to a dead end, Bill’s resume is still circulating. I suppose I could try circulating mine, too.
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