Jobless

This morning at about 5:30 am I awoke from a nightmare in which I was jobless and in desperate need of income to support my wife Anne and me.

I was at huge unemployment office in a warehouse facility with hundreds of other men, and the only women were among those working in this office.

Most of the other men seemed to know about the unemployment process and some of them quickly grabbed the available seating so they wouldn't have to stand around for hours like the rest of us. I didn't mind this, for even with my tender back, I wanted to be considerate of others.

The rest room facilities had just one toilet and there was a line to use it. When my turn came, others wanted to jostle ahead of me and I politely but firmly took my turn to urinate, even as a few of the men were right next to me, to compete with each other for that toilet after me.

I has spoken to the unemployment agency staff saying "I want to work, I need a job" but they treated my request lightly for many people needed jobs. One person referenced some jobs available in a book depository but said that there would be heavy competition for those jobs.

One of the other job applicants told me the government doesn't want to pay unemployment when it can be avoided and I didn't want unemployment anyway, I wanted a job.

At the end of the day I was no closer to that job than when I first arrived and would return in the morning to start again.

This dream was very upsetting and I was pleased to awaken.

I realized that the dream may have reflected a fear that I might run out of money and need a job. I thought of it like many men of the Great Depression in the 1930's who desperately needed work to support their families and couldn't get it, at least until the WPA and other work camps were put in place in the latter 1930's.

Many had been left to ride the rails seeking work however low paid, anywhere they could find it.

It also reflected the many people who today are desperate for work but can't find decent paying jobs to take care of their families.

And it was a strong reminder of why so many poor immigrants come to richer nations, apart from their families for long periods of time to seek any work they can find, to send money home to their families.

In this dream I was suddenly in their shoes and it was very uncomfortable, although I did not lose my determination to find work, which I did not control.

My heart goes out to all those those in need, and they deserve our compassion and our tax money in support of their efforts. No-one wanting a job and willing to work should be jobless.

Dick