After 11 years I am finally free from the cubicle life….
I spent 10 years at a publishing company in Ventura and then at the beginning of this year I moved to Amgen. But, on Wednesday, October 10, 2007, I was given my freedom. I was one of the 1,500 who received ‘the package’. I celebrated and rejoiced! But, many others were devistated by the news. So much of their life, career, hopes and dreams were tied up in that company.
The day after we all got the news, Amgen held a special meeting for us in the conference room of a local hotel to discuss the details of our severance package. Can I just say, WOWOW!!!! Yeah, Amgen is amazing. But while I was rejoicing I was hearing stories of people who had home mortgages, car loans and all sorts of home, auto, and life insurance through Amgen and now that was all going to change. It was like being cut out of your parent’s will. I suddenly realized that what for me meant freedom for others meant the death of a life they had lived for so long. WOW … kinda scary to be that intertwined in one place.
The only sad thing about my leaving is the day-to-day interaction I had with my friends. Scott was my cube-mate and so we spent many hours, days, weeks, months building our friendship. We will still have it but it’s the moment to moment inside jokes and our morning eggs that Tony prepared for us everyday that I will miss. We laughed so much together—often my belly would ache from so much laughter. We became like brother and sister. We could hear some random office chatter and all we had to do is look at each other to know what we were both thinking! Oh man we had some crazy characters that sat around us. Ahhh good times.
Rich—I loved our daily interaction. But, with Rich I know we will stay close no matter what because it was Rich that got me this job. We have been friends for a long time and I know that wont change.
Dan—I will miss our random IMing though out the day.
Sheri, Tracy, Deona, Wendy—what an amazing group of people.
Here are some pictures from my goodbye/birthday lunch. Yeah, I told everyone that Amgen gave me the best birthday present ever—My FREEDOM!!
Me and Scott
Wendy and Sheri
Tracy and Me
Beth, Rich and Deona
