Chapter 3

 

 

 

 

Well I got a new job!  It is the same as my last job only at a different place.  The boss here either did not know what happened at my last job or did not care.  I asked for graveyard shift and so that is what I am working again.  It pays a little better than the regular shifts do and I am used to working those hours now.

I started out making the same as what I was getting at the other place and this one is just a little bit closer to my apartment.  Though I live very frugally I do spend a little money at a gym.  It is actually a martial arts place.  I train there twice a week and on Saturdays it is open much of the day so I can go work out.  There is often someone else there to spar with to on Saturdays.  It keeps my in shape and does not cost very much at all.

Two weeks into my new job and I had to call nine one one again.  This time just because there was a fender bender on the street right in front of the place.  No one was hurt and it did not amount to much but I did call it in.  The cops came and I guess they got things sorted out fairly quickly.  One of the cops came in I guess to see if I had any more information about the accident.

“You the one who called in the accident?”

“Yes.  I did not see it I only looked up after I heard the crash.”

“Oh I remember you.  New job huh?”

“Yes I just started here a couple weeks ago.”

“I heard you turned down that money that was raised for you.  I know that a few of the guys sent in some money for you.”

“I hope they aren’t mad because I did not take the money?”

“No just the opposite.  It just reinforced the reason we donated the money to you.  I’ll let the Detective know you are working here now in case he wants to stop by.  You ever think about being a cop?”

“I did but I don’t think it’s for me.  No offence to you or other cops though.”

“No problem.  It’s not a job for everyone that’s for sure.”

“I’m not sure what I want to do.”

“Just get out of the military?”

“Yes.  It shows huh?”

“Hey not a bad thing.  Take your time and make the right decision.  Well I better get back at it.  Have a good night.”

“You too Officer.”

I fell into the same old routine at this job.  This place had a TV playing the news all the time too.  I’m not too sure it is always the whole truth we hear on the printed and broadcast news though but I listen to it anyway.  The economy is definitely not improving any despite what the news says.  Sometimes I stop at the library and use one of the computers there and get more news and information off the internet.  Can’t believe all of that news on the internet either but at least there you can find differing views on things.

They now say unemployment is only just over five percent but I do have a little trouble believing that is true.  But I have to admit I had no real trouble finding another job, such as it is, pretty quickly when I started looking.

On the internet they said most of the new jobs are just part time jobs.  Just like the one I have.  I read about all the financial trouble the European Union is having and Greece is in the news just about every day it seems.  Yet the stock markets here are setting record highs just about every week.  And it is not just American stock markets because across the globe the world markets are setting record highs also at the same time the economies are stagnant or even shrinking everywhere.  It sure makes no sense at all. 

In Europe you have to pay the banks just to hold your money for you.  They pay no interest and instead you have to pay them.  That is hard to believe and is just the opposite as the way it has been for hundreds of years.  No way is that right.  Things are really screwed up.

On the internet many regular people and also many economists are talking about a possible economic collapse soon, like maybe this fall.  I don’t really doubt those predictions though most of the economists do say the exact date is very hard to pin down and things might keep going the way they are now for quite some time yet.  I can understand that because obviously they are all just guessing about what will happen.  No one can see the future, all any of us can do is guess what will happen and when.

I certainly would not want to be a cop now.  There have been protests in several cities where cops have shot people.  Often it was white cops who shot black bad guys.  There were riots in a couple cities.  Many businesses were looted and some were burned down.  The National Guard had to be brought in just to restore the order.  That’s not good.  Makes me wonder what the spring and summer will bring, I think more riots.

There was talk on the internet about people being hired and paid to protest and to riot.  Who would pay for that?  And why would they would they want stuff like that to even happen?  Who benefits from chaos?  I can not figure it out and the sad part is that I think I believe its likely true that people are being paid to do these things even though it seems to make no sense.

When all the protests and riots had been happening in those other cities we had a few protests here in sympathy to those other cities.  This has me concerned and if things get worse this summer I will just leave town and go somewhere else.  Somewhere that is not likely to have riots or even protests.  That to me means to a smaller town and in a much less populated area.  I will head west until I find a place that looks good.

But I will stay here for now and just see what happens.  I have put on hold any big decision about what I am going to do with my future.  There is just too much turmoil right now.  I will just wait until things settle down and get more normal again before I make any big decisions about my future life.  That seems pretty reasonable to me.  Of course that assumes that things will settle down and get back to ‘normal’.