The C Word – Day 41 The End of Work

Today was George’s last day at work.  To be honest, he emotionally checked out earlier in the week.  He came home early the past three days.  It’s hard to concentrate when you know you are going to be gone for a few months.  Since he just started a new position, it is difficult to get anything accomplished in such a short period of time. 

He had mixed emotions about this, his last day. Part sadness as he really was looking forward to this new position.  Relief that he can now concentrate on the illness.  Anxious because now he has about 9 days of time to do – anything, nothing, a little bit – whatever he wants to do with it. While the earliest he can return is about December 1^st, quite honestly it may be the first part of 2015.  He is essentially putting his life on hold for up to three months.

Men define themselves by their jobs.  To suddenly not have one will be hard to adjust to.  It is not as if there is a slow transition towards work stoppage.  It is literally, working today – and not tomorrow.  His time card for next week is already filled out as “sick”.  (He has to call in sick for five days before short term disability kicks in – since this is a pre-arranged time off, this task has already been done for him.)

I imagine it will take a little while to become accustomed to this part of the change.  I know what won’t be difficult – the “sleeping in” part. Sleeping in will only be problematic if there is nothing to get out of bed for.  Hopefully he has a few ideas in mind that will keep his mind occupied over the next week or so.  Maybe he will visit with a few friends.  He might pop over to visit me at work.  Perhaps he will do something out in “Man Land” (i.e., the garage).  It’s not long enough to start one of the big projects but he might have something small he can work on.  The week will probably feel like it is going in slow motion.