Chapter 43: Work Changes

Different Directions

In our second bedroom "office"
In our second bedroom “office”

This was the time John began to entertain ideas of a career in computers.

John revamped his résumé to include his post-college experience in the work force. Then he hit the papers to make a switch, and brainstormed ways to get some practical experience.

Popular music included Black or White by Michael Jackson (one of the few music videos I actually liked) and Let’s Talk About Sex (Universal Club Mix) by Salt ‘n Pepa (I preferred the dance mixes of this song).

musicnotes-tiny“Crazy” by Seal
Seal – Crazy

"The Terminator 2: Judgment Day"
Hasta la Vista, Baby

I was also looking for something different. The drudgery of fielding billing and service issues was wearing thin.

In addition, we were required to work on rotating Saturdays to answer phones.  Trying to arrange coverage in the event of other plans was a real hassle.

At one point, I went for an administrative assistant position at C-1. I didn’t get the job—it went to someone with more experience. I then unsuccessfully applied for a job in the customer retention department.

I decided to train on the “switch manager” for activating new subscribers, and learned the daily information backup process (using a mini tape drive back then).

In our living room
In our living room

I was also able to soak up some real computer training when I accepted the responsibility of logging “referrals” on a Lotus spreadsheet. This was different from working on a Mainframe-driven IBM “Macro Cell” which sat on each desk for customer-related records. Nobody could have guessed how PCs and Macs would soon proliferate the typical office setting.

I also was asked to provide illustrations for the company newsletter, The Cellular One Connection. My caricatures were dead-on, including one of our General Manager, and I enjoyed the experience.

Spring Picnic Poster
Spring Picnic Poster I created

I was Secretary of the Activities Committee, in charge of creating flyers and posters for company-sponsored events. How I wished I could do that sort of thing for a living.

musicnotes-tiny“Around The Way Girl” by LL Cool J

LL Cool J – Around the Way Girl

Specifically, Hold You Tight (Tara Kemp), Hole Hearted (Extreme) I Wanna Sex U Up (Color Me Badd) and Rescue Me (Madonna) and Things That Make You Go Hmmm by C & C Music Factory remind me of times at work and hanging out with people at the office.

As in the year before, I was completely happy with John, and would talk about him at the office to anyone who cared enough to listen. I would gaze at a 5X7 picture of him from our engagement on my desk and fantasize about seeing him after work.  The song I’ve Been Thinking About You by Londonbeat brings me back to that general era of dreaming about John on the job.

First Anniversary

We happily celebrated our First Anniversary on June 23, and stayed the night at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel, where we’d had our reception a year before.

Our wedding cake
Still delicious one year later!

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner, hit the jumpin’ Illusions nightclub (where our Cocktail Hour had been) and soaked up the room’s amenities. I recall when we walked into the nightclub, Got a Love For You by Jomanda was blazing.

Back at the apartment, we were delighted to find that our wedding cake top had fared quite well in the freezer, and savored every delicious bite for a few days. So much for “the first year being the toughest”!

I remembered my excitement the previous year, and how much I’d looked forward to being John’s wife. I was not disappointed. While life wasn’t perfect, I couldn’t imagine having anyone else by my side. Even at this writing, in 2012, life with John continues to feel brand-new. My sweetheart still has that “new car smell” and remains the man of my dreams.

A lifetime together will never be enough.

Nightclub
“Illusions” nightclub, where we had our cocktail hour, and raised a glass on our first anniversary

Branching Out

By mid-summer 1991, my efforts at work had not landed me any new opportunities despite my attempts to learn other facets of the business. Increasingly resentful, and close to tears, I spoke to John about it one Sunday afternoon during a walk, and he suggested that perhaps I needed to consider other employment.

Uneasy about venturing from my comfort zone, I knew he was right. Although I had developed great relationships with my coworkers and there were a lot of nice company-sponsored events, the job was getting to be a grind.

musicnotes-tiny“All For Love” by Color Me Badd

Color Me Badd – All For Love

Our Happy Place
Our Happy Place

This would be the first summer in a decade I did not go to ASTA.

Now that John and I were employed with limited vacation time, we wanted an arrangement in which we could share the same quarters. The previous year, just after our wedding, we had stayed apart in the dorms (with our  respective gaggle of students according to gender). A year later, being together was paramount.

A rare occurrence, a small handful of married couples had actually been granted this privilege at ASTA. However, when I questioned the powers-that-be for the same arrangement, they declined to extend this to us. I understood their reasons, but knew I had to make a decision.

With a heavy heart I wrote to Jerry Kupchynsky (“Mr. K”) and explained that I would not be participating. I was no longer a counselor or student, but a married person for whom vacation time alone with my new husband was at a premium.

musicnotes-tiny“She Drives Me Crazy” by Fine Young Cannibals

Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy

John and I were both involved at church, not only as choir members but John became an altar assistant and Sunday school teacher.

I volunteered to assist with the Saints Alive youth program, and this had me teaching post-confirmation teenagers with Barbara W on Sundays. Motownphilly by Boyz II Men and Now That We’ve Found Love by Heavy D And the Boyz were popular at this time.

Farewell Cake
Goodbye to Cellular One

After months of stressful job hunting, John eventually managed to snag a new job in General Services at the Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) Turbocharger Facility. It was a decent way to pull down a steady check living for the time being, though not particularly stimulating. It introduced some welcome stability as John continued with plans to break into the Information Technology field.

Eventually, John found ways to acquire “hands-on” experience with various computer issues in the office, and he was very good at it troubleshooting and resolving technical issues.

Mentally detaching from my own job, I began the formal search for new employment that fall by scanning the papers and registering with the employment agencies. Armed with plenty of office skills, and a new résumé, I visited a few companies to explore some openings.

I ended up being invited to a second interview with Terumo Medical Corporation, a Japanese medical products manufacturer whose American headquarters was based in Somerset, NJ.

Chapter 44: New Job; Road To Homeownership

Return to Chapters

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: