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Layoffs have become commonplace across the United States. My tale is just one of many. No matter what kind of work you were doing, the trauma of being laid off is the same for each. Most often we know its coming years before it happens, at least that was the case for me. I worked in the textile industry so understood its volatility.

Some of us prepared for the eventual day, while some hoped to at least make it to retirement. I was one of those that had hoped to retire from my job as an electronic technician. I knew that I had the technical skills to find a job in the event of a plant closing, but I was tired of my current occupation.

I looked at the layoff as an adventure, the chance to try new things. I increased the withholdings to my 401k. I began to look for something to do that would be fun. I knew right away that I wanted to write in some fashion. I knew I wanted to complete that first novel, which I have.

The fateful day finally came. Tensions around the facility were high. Rumors said that the announcement was hours away. The rumors were correct, we were suddenly asked to go to the conference room. Honestly, I was near tears. You could see watery eyes among management as they broke the news to us, at least half the room was crying, and I was one of them.

The thirty-mile commute home that day was one of the longest of my life. Even though I was somewhat prepared for the layoff, the reality of it was horrific. Every bad scenario that one could imagine passed through my mind. The only thing I knew for sure was that I would have money to eat and to pay utilities. Ahead of me I saw a dismal future.

The last day of work came and went. Oddly, after all the trepidations of being laid off, I felt some kind of release as I drove out of the gate for the last time. I paused at the gate just long enough to take one last look back and capture the moment on film. For three months I returned weekly to collect severance pay. Since then I haven't been back. I do not miss the job one bit. At times I do miss some of the people, but there are some in which I keep in contact.

After the announcement I decided to start a personalization business. I had been buying equipment along and was prepared to start within a week of termination. My plan was to work flea markets. As with the best-laid plans, that didn't come to pass. Instead, I was offered the opportunity to move my new business into a store downtown.

I ran my personalization business, as well as helping tend the store. This was more fun than anything I have ever experienced. I wasn't getting rich, but the bills were getting paid and some left over to help the store financially.

All good things come to an end. The store closed. The moment the store closed was maybe worse than the layoff from my job of 33 years. Still, I began to think of what to do next. What direction I might take the personalization business. The store had taken a lot of time. Since my layoff I had taken only two weeks off before opening the store. I decided to take some time off.

It was in that time period I decided to work on my novel and ready it for publishing. After, seemingly, endless nights of proofing and editing, I sent my novel off to the printer. Seeing my novel in print was one of the defining moments of my life. Even though its not sold well, and may not even be a good novel, it's mine.

At this writing I am trying to eke out a living writing. There are the odd jobs that are interesting, such as videoing karaoke. There is life after layoff. If it ever happens to you, look to it as a new beginning. So far I have no regrets in my choices.

Learn more about this author, Tammy Crain.
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