Tales from the Front: Destination Unknown

You ask yourself

When will my time come

Has it all been said and done

I know I'll leave when it's my time to go

'Til then I'll carry on with what I know

Destination Unknown by Missing Persons 

I don't usually remember dreams but when I woke up this morning, I couldn't forget the one that woke me up in terror. 

It's not an uncommon dream. It's the one when you have places to go to finish a task but things keep happening to keep you from getting to the destination. 

In this particular case, I was at a Cowboys game but for some reason it was a basketball media room. My boss (who was represented by my mentor, the late sportscaster Rod Simons,) had asked me to go and cover a different game about a half hour away. I needed to do interviews so I needed an XLR cable, and was asking friends to help me out. I finally got one and headed out. My driver took me way out of the way and then got out of the car. When I attempted to go into the driver's seat, the car was on the entrance ramp to a highway leading back to the stadium where I started. The car was running but would not move. 

There was a warning message in the dashboard in a foreign language which made me turn to the owner's manual looking for what the problem was. 

When I woke up I was gasping for air, and my heart was racing. I knew it was a surreal dream but it was very real with the situation I find myself in. 

Since being laid off in November, the world has simply changed. I have put out a lot of resumes and original cover letters and have gotten a few interviews, but I have not reached the destination. 

So throughout, I have tried to look at a plan B and I had one that was supposed to start this month. I was accepted into the supervisors program for the US Census, wanting to be productive while searching for the next career role. Of course, I never reached that destination because everything went on hold for COVID-19.

A few weeks ago, I had a series of interviews for a wonderful opportunity that would take me back to my television roots. Again, as things began to heat up, a hiring freeze went into effect. I could see the job in front of me but could not reach it. 

And now, there is another opportunity which has everything I could possibly want, but this time, there was a date set for the hiring. The destination was clear. One more step, and I was there. That was more than a week ago, but I was told things are being held up (but will still be hired) due to the process being difficult because of the situation. Again, it's right there. 

So back to this morning. I am looking for the owner’s manual in my mind looking for the reason the car won't go.  

I'm not sitting still as I applied in a plan B with the state to be a part of the Contact Tracing team. I am somewhat sure the circumstances of that one won't change anytime soon. 

I share this story not to vent or say things are unfair. It is a very real situation we are in during this amazing time in our history. This is our great depression, and we are seeing the world change in front of our eyes. I am doing well thanks to our state's commitment to helping those out of work.  

I share this because there are probably hundreds or thousands stories like this right now, and I wanted you to know you are not alone. Will we get to the destination anytime soon? The answer changes everyday.  

Until then, as I look out on the lake in the middle of a spring storm, I see a lone seagull flying against the wind, never giving up in their effort to get to their destination. It reminds me to keep moving forward and believe that that destination is still there.