Well wishes for jobless man
Being the owner of a small manufacturing company, I experience a lot of emotions. But few strike as hard as the desperate faces of the unemployed.
Recently, a kind looking man of about 40 walked through my door and caught me in an awkward moment, sitting at my desk with my head in my hands and staring into space. I was thinking about what a sorry sap I was, now making only about half of what I used to get paid when I had a good job. Poor me.
When I realized a stranger was staring me and snapped to, I commented that he caught me in deep thought. He nodded, and managed to force a painful looking half smile to his face and said, "I was wondering if you have any job openings?" Our eyes squarely locked, and without hesitation I replied in a hopeless, direct voice: "I wish I could say yes, but the answer is no." His half smile slowly faded, his eyes changed and welled and his head dropped, then he gave me a gentle silent nod that it was OK, but I new it was not.
As he slowly turned and walked out, I knew his situation was much worse than mine. At that moment my eyes changed, a lump formed in my throat, and I felt like I could cry for this jobless man. Good luck stranger, I feel for you.
Bill Cermak
Fox River Grove