NEW CASTLE —
Imagine, for an instant, that your tomorrow never comes. You were somehow removed from existence.
It could be a horrific accident or an unknown health problem but, nonetheless, you drew your final breath as a mere mortal man.
Now what?
Your friends and associates at work would shudder at the thought of your passing and possibly grieve in their own fashion for a few days. Your employer would soon go about the task of replacing you. By the end of the week they will have cleared everything out of your cubicle or office and already held several interviews.
During the interview process, they will discover several much younger and more vibrant individuals than you, who are relishing the opportunity to fill your now-vacant position.
Needless to say, the company that you poured hours and hours into will quickly plow forward and replace you with an upgrade, most likely at a lower wage.
Despite the blood, sweat, and tears that you offered up to the idol god of this company, they have brushed your very existence under the carpet only moments after your untimely departure. They have quickly wiped the slate clean, in spite of you giving up going to your child's ball game for that “important” project. Even though you abandoned those evenings with your family to meet some impossible deadline. Even though you spent those thankless hours on holidays manning the ship so that the world would not end and ensure that the “product” was complete.
Somehow, you managed to get the mountains of work done, time and time again. You kept the company afloat, kept your cool and forsook your family all at once. Your undying dedication and “company-man” status left your loved ones wanting only more of you. They longed for you to share the dinner table with them. They prayed for you to be able make an appearance at Thanksgiving and birthday parties. But you always seemed to find a reason to be at the office, trading your family for a few measly dollars.
You have rationalized to yourself that these things need to be done and that they are important. You have convinced yourself that, if I don’t get this stuff done then the world may just end. While at home, your children long for their parent to embrace their world. To play with them. To tuck them in and read them a bedtime story.
They desire for you to teach and mold their lives, not forget about them as you dive into a new chapter of your company's life and trade yet another tender, irreplaceable moment for a night of vending machine junk food and florescent lighting.
It will not be long until the imaginary departure laid out here comes to fruition and you will be wishing, praying, and pleading to trade just one of those all-important menial tasks from work for a fleeting moment with your children. Your time with them is quite short. Make every moment count.
Maybe you should call off sick tomorrow and take them to do whatever they want. Get them ice cream, take them to the movies, or Chuck E. Cheese’s. Anything they want! Tackle the day with as much charisma and dedication as you would if a new project came across your desk.
By all means enjoy yourself. The boss will never know.
Josh Drespling
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About Josh Drespling: Josh is a former graphic designer at The News. His blog appears each Saturday.
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