The Magnificent Modern Mature Woman

Do you believe in fate/destiny?

Fate is something that happens and destiny is something that one chooses per Google search. For example, my fate is that I loss my job with difficulty finding employment in a tough job market. Destiny is that my cats and I are selling out and leaving Texas.

Out of preventing inevitable foreclosure, my realtor is drawing up a respectful offer so she can buy the property and use it as rental income and I can use the funds to buy a small mobile home in northern Michigan. My cats safety is most important. Grateful for my realtor.

Having panic attacks have been constant since I lost my job and crying about things that I have no control over.

The funny thing is that I was already considering a move back up north and I was already looking at property.

So, me and my babies hopefully will be able to start a new life with some money in our pockets way up north even find work to cover expenses. Grateful to a lifetime friend who sent me money so that will be used towards moving or next house payment.

Bella, Luna and I are making lemonade out of the lemons handed to us. It’s a hard decision to move under these circumstances. Prayers appreciated.

Thank you,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.

For most of my adult life, I have lived in west Michigan in different cities but my last one was the best.

While living in the city of Grand Rapids, I lived on the northeast side full of bungalows and school built in the 1930s. The neighborhood association was strong as well with a walkable elementary school of no busses allowed. Green space in the center of the area behind the school. Access to the White Pine Bike Trail and to I-96 plus US-131 that made it easy to get anywhere. Homes rarely go on sale or stay on the market for long. With the above, I felt safe and secure with mostly good neighbors.

After losing my longtime employment, I had difficulty finding new employment partially due to the local economy at the time and ageism. Eventually, I had to leave my area and decided to move to north Texas.

It was difficult saying goodbye to west Michigan including the beaches of Grand Haven, Meijer Knapp’s Corners superstore, and safe walkable area.

If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?

Truthfully, I wouldn’t want to be someone else for a 24 hour time frame because in that brief window, I would be seeing another person’s problems and blessings.

The natural tendency is that most people including myself who would falsely believe that they could fix problems of another without experiencing it even only becoming aware of it at hour 23.

Being someone else means that a stranger is taking care of my feline babies that is unthinkable. Fear of destruction of everything that I worked for.

For 24 hours, I would have to be a good steward of people and of property who are part of someone else’s life. Honestly, I would have to coast or auto pilot not to harm but only benefit the other person.

So, I would decline the offer of being able someone else for a day. My life is enough.

Leslie Elizabeth David.

Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on

My most ambitious project to date that I did mainly by myself was to move to the DFW metroplex in north Texas from west Michigan.

The decision to move here was because I couldn’t find a job in west Michigan after I lost my job after 21 years of employment plus I was so tired of hearing how great the area is when my experience proved otherwise.

My destination of north Texas was chosen by lots of research and trusting my gut feeling thus moving nearer Fort Worth than Dallas.

First, I started donating clothing and furniture because I planned to buy them down here that I purchased IKEA for living room, dining room and bedroom afterwards.

Secondly, I planned logistics of getting me and my fur babies down to Texas from Michigan. Flying rather driving because my Honda Civic was up in miles.

Next, my auto plus my bikes and the rest of my things were delivered by a moving company. The apartment managers and staff helped me with the move to make sure that me and my cats were happy. Relocation specialists for sure.

In the near future, I hope to reverse the above by moving to northern Michigan instead of the western side of the State. Doing it myself again from planning to execution. My felines safety is of most importance. No timetable set as of yet.

Hopeful,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?

With some help, I have found that, “whatever,” brings a sense of laziness or indecisiveness that usually results in irritation or anger to the person on the receiving end.

Truthfully, if I had teenagers with one whom responded like that to me, I would likely ground them until he/she is 18 years old and take away their phone and their mode of transport being a bike or auto.

At the workplace, this word is cued to be one of defiance and attitude that could result termination or on probation although the person could be a senior employee who knows better.

Richard Marx used to word best in the song, “Waiting for you.” As in, “wherever you go, whatever you do, I’ll be right here waiting for you…” This is my only example when the word is properly used that adds value to someone else.

From my experience, I have learned to use my words carefully and wisely to avoid the confrontations like the word above will certainly bring.

Yours Truly,

Leslie Elizabeth David.

What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?

Losing my job at the age of 64 with almost seven years of employment has presented me with a new set of challenges that replaced the headaches at work.

Truthfully, I’m happy to be away from the politics at work. With no legally binding guidance on professional behavior from Human Resources, it left the door open legally for both owners and management to act far less than professional.

Being well into my second month of unemployment, my age is a presumed hindrance because it is taken for granted that I will work until I’m 65 years old thus not worth the time and investment. Ageism is discrimination based on the presumption that age determines work life longevity.

Unemployment benefits don’t pay a livable amount in Texas so I had to find second income that doesn’t know me but only presumes wrongly. Yesterday, after getting my new driver’s license, I signed up to drive for Uber after passing their background checks for delivering food and people. My own hours and my own car that will help. Uber expects all drivers adhere to rules of the road.

The Texas Workforce Commission expects me to job hunt onsite thus being timed when I’m there. With my interview later this morning, I might go afterwards to fill my obligation for this week.

The saying of, “If God brings you to it, He’ll see you through it,” has been a test of my Faith to the max again. He’s opened doors already so grateful.

Already living the challenges of the next six months now unless I am fortunate enough to get gainful employment. Life is an adventure that needs to be lived fully.

Thank You,

Leslie Elizabeth David.