Unearthing the Past

In an effort to clear out the guest room for Colin's new room, we moved a large metal file cabinet into the nook off of our master bedroom, creating a bit more of a formal office. And while I don't love having the office off of the bedroom, for now it works.

We started going back through old files to really clear out those we don't need. Some things, like really old tax returns (oh, I earned "big bucks" at Arby's in 1992....) were easy to toss. And then there was the stack of files that were like a time machine. A time machine where I visited each of my former jobs.

There are the happy things you run into: the copy of a long letter crafted to the company president applauding a customer service experience with me that resulted in him remaining a loyal customer, with a note from the president to me thanking me, as well. The promotion and raise letter that so swept me off my feet with surprise that I ran home from the mail box as fast as I could to share the good news with Matt. The offer letters, with hope of a new tomorrow. The resignation letters, with hope of a new tomorrow.

Then there are all of the personality assessments that each company does, with some variation on a theme. Many of them make me laugh because they are so true in how I deal with life as a parent. I'm a "quick start" with a bit of "fact finder." An analysis of this explains that one should not expect me to document procedures...and the last job I left I am certain I drove my replacement nuts -- I didn't exactly document how I did things. Because that might mean I had to do it the same way everytime, and that's not very much fun, now is it?

And then there are all of the personnel reviews, which remind me of all of my old bosses, including one I was so scared to death of (yeah, me) that it still makes me shutter to think about. But there were the ones that perplexed me, infuriated me, inspired me, encouraged me, "went to bat" for me, and had confidence in me.

I easily tossed old files from job searches, which largely included the time after I was laid off from "the firm." Dang, I can't believe how many places I applied to and interviewed with, only to land a job with one of the first ones I had applied with. I can recall interviewing with an ad agency who asked some of the dumbest questions that it's no wonder I ended up going back to work for a bank!

I haven't been in "Corporate America" for over 2 years, so I figured it was time to clean house and narrow down these files. I saved the "good stuff," and gleefully tossed the rest. My file cabinet can finally breathe!