The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate
I hope many of you had the opportunity to laugh at one of the funniest television shows ever: Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In. It aired in the seventies, when I was in college and thereafter. This was a time when humor was silly and ridiculous. One of my favorite bits was the presentation of the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award. But that program is not the basis for today’s post.
This post is about the true fickleness of our fates.
Fickleness is not necessarily a bad thing. When I graduated from the University of Iowa, I believed the world was my oyster, and I would be propelled to greatness by my education. Please don’t laugh. We were all young and ambitious in our twenties. At times, it seemed like fate was out to get me. My first job after graduation was at an iron foundry in Washington, Iowa. They did not roll up the streets at sunset, except on weekends. It was that small.
The only other job offer I had from was an SS Kresge store (later known as KMart) in Beloit, Wisconsin. So, I took the factory job. All went well until our plant manager retired. Oddly enough, his assistant shredded most of his files (interesting).
His replacement was the factory superintendent, who thought he was our Supreme Leader. No, he was a jerk. Our controller left. The cost accountant was promoted and promptly starting looking for a new job. Just before an inventory exercise, the new manager confronted my boss and I. He was cursing and pushing around the furniture, showing who’s the boss. As soon as the new controller got a new job, he gave me the name of his recruiter so I could escape too.
Next thing I knew, I relocated to St. Joseph, Missouri to work for a medical device company. I met new friends and felt right at home. A couple years later, we were acquired by another company (American Home Products). They bought a device company in San Diego, and I was made controller. Whew! No more cold winters!
A year or so later, a major flood hit St. Joseph. The plant was contaminated and had to be shut down. Many good friends lost their jobs that day.
I worked in San Diego for nine years. Most of the time, I worked at the plant in Tijuana. I became very adept at calculating cost savings from being in country. Multiple US factories were shut down and relocated. I take no joy in that accomplishment, however, companies do what they do.
The most wonderful benefit from that job was meeting my future wife. While the job eventually vanished (companies do what they do), I found new work on the US side of the border at a company that had just relocated from LA.
My fourteen years there were the high point of my career. I still have many friends from that company, including the guy who started it all, Howard Leight.
Then, a little company called Honeywell showed up. I have left out a lot of details, but Honeywell bought the company, and most of the leadership team was cut.
While my tale is still unfolding, this is just an overview of a forty-four year career. At the end of it, finding Aida was still the best part of the entire adventure. Thank goodness for the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate. She’s still my best friend.
Karl after all of that, you found your wife and that was the best part. Everything around you fell, and you were left standing. I like that! You put a smile on my face.
Thanks, Shirley, but there’s not a lot of choice when things go wrong. We live and we learn.
Karl, I can relate to much of what you shared. As a Plant Manager for many years and in several companies, the Controller was my best friend. All companies look at the budget and bottom line. If you are unable to meet it, then it’s adios! I started two plants from scratch, and turned around 3 that were losing money. Unfortunately, I also had to close 3 factories. I’ve been retired since 2013 and don’t miss that life.
PS I, too, still have friends from many of my former companies as they were all here in MI…I didn’t have to relocate, but many of them were a 2 hr. drive ea. way.
John, I too made good friends at each stop along the way. Unfortunately, changing fortunes and the passage of time has caused us to drift apart. Still, the memories live on in my mind. All the best.
Karl, Best title ever! I love alliteration. I’ve visited San Diego and found it beautiful. Tijuana, not as much, but it was a great education on culture and way of life. -Pamela #RRBC http://pamelascanepa.wordpress.com
Pamela, thank you for stopping by. Mexico is great, and not just because my wife is from there. It used to be much safer, but under the AMLO regime, Tijuana has become the most dangerous city in the world. My in-laws are dealing with that everyday. Talk about the fickle finger of fate!
Karl, I hadn’t thought about Laugh-In for a long time. We loved that show in my house. The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate surely has strange ways of stalking us at times when we least expect it. One never knows if it will be a blessing or a curse, or something in between. Laugh-In also taught us to look for comedy in things we hadn’t seen humor in, like silly little phrases that made it into the American language lexicon. Thanks for the reminder.
Wanda, fate really is fickle. However, I would not change a minute of my life for something different. It is all part of our adventure. Thank you for stopping by.
You had a lot of variety in your life, Karl, through no fault of your own. I saw a graphic once that compared our idea of what the path to Heaven looks like (straight and uphill all the way) to the winding, perilous, up and down and sideways path life truly is. How wonderful that you found Aida along the way. Blessings!
Thank you, Patty.
Karl, you have had quite a career adventure! I well remember Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In – so many great comedians on there – remember Ruth Buzzi? – and both Kresge’s and KMart! My husband actually worked for Honeywell for many years in their computer programming division till they laid everyone off. Luckily, he got a job where they used Honeywell computers, and he was considered a “guru”! Glad you and Aida are still going strong – that really was the best part!
Thanks for the kind words, Maura. Life has a way of giving us twists and turns. As it turns out, I forgot my time with James Hardie Irrigation, and I worked there five years! As an Australian company, I had the opportunity to go Down Under for a management development course. It is a beautiful country.
After reading your life story, I also find the highlight to be the way you speak of your wife. You are a good husband, and all husbands should speak of their wives they way you do.
Thank you, Susanne. You are very kind.
Hi Karl,
I lived in Missouri for two years before I came to Europe. One thing I definitely agree with you on is that it is cold there and in many places in that state, there is too much snow.
I’m enjoying your story.
Shalom Aleichem
Pat,
Missouri can be cold, but I also lived in Wyoming. Now that’s cold! I hope the weather in Germany is better suited to your preferences. All the best.
I don’t know that I could ever handle corporate America. I am too fond of consistency and security. But as you said, your journey led you to the love of your life, so it’s sounds like it was a win-win for you. 🙂
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Yvette, yes, life is fickle. I have worked for great companies, only to have them be acquired by larger ones that are run my executive fiat. Like GE, many of those giant corporations eventually are decimated by their own foolishness.
WOW, Karl, you have lived and worked all over the place, haven’t you? What a career! I was going to ask “Who is Aida?” but it seems I got my answer from all the other commenters. Karl, you have been keeping secrets… as long as I have known you, I didn’t know about Aida! I thought you lived alone, with Chachis for all those years.
I am so glad you’re blogging daily! Your posts are just so fun!
When are we going to get a post about the joys of grandparenting? (There I go again – putting in requests as if you’re a DJ! LOL)
Nonnie, Aida was my wife for 28 years. We aren’t married now, but that doesn’t change how we feel. While she is frequently busy with friends and such, we still take time together. I rely on her strength, and she on mine. Life is complicated, but our choices are simple. Do the right thing everyday and never stop caring for those you love.
Hi Karl! The ups and downs and twists and turns of life keep things interesting, don’t they? Still, I recognize how challenging life in corporate America can be. Almost everyone I know who worked in industry and left, is glad to be out of it now. Great post!
Best wishes,
Donna M. Atwood
D. M. Atwood
https://www.dmatwood.com
Donna,
I had some great experiences in corporate finance. I got to travel to Australia, Brazil, and more extensively in Europe. I met and still interact with quite a few former coworkers. Unfortunately, big corporations focus solely on the numbers. That’s no way to “own” a company. I am definitely glad to be away from all the noise.