The Omen: Part 2

As I remember, things seemed almost too good to be true... for everyone. We had just recruited a familiar face, that had previously worked a year or two in the Lerner Lab. The fate of the lab seemed positive, despite the usual tensions that many of its senior members (present company included) had become almost callous to. I had been busy at work, with more than a plate full, but in control. The kind of busy that keeps the days moving quickly, without the added stress of working late or falling too far behind on projects.

The first sign

It's hard to remember back ~ 2 months. At this point, I might have just known for sure that my good friend and colleague Dave Kujawa, was committed to Law school at LMU and leaving the lab in August. This really isn't that ominous alone, but looking back a couple of months later makes it seem so.

Then this

My 33rd birthday, 7.22.06 was on a saturday this year. This photo was taken in the parking lot in front of the Beckman center for chemical science (my building) on the wednesday before my birthday. I can't be completely positive, but I think someone nearly T-boned me about a 1/4 of a mile from my mom's condo on my way to lunch, minutes after taking this photo. I'm sure I had said something to Crystal about it... she would remember. Something was in the air. If my math is right, and it usually is, later that afternoon a friend in the lab delivered the news to myself and a couple of others that the Lerner Lab had run out of funding and everyone had until October 1st to find employment elsewhere... harsh. The rumor had come from the top, and was assumed to be credible. It's the news that you just never want to hear. You're fired! (maybe if it's coming from Trump... maybe) It hits you like a brick, and trust me, I believe you go through all or most of the 12 steps in finally coming to grips with the reality of the situation. The rumor was confirmed the next day by my boss in her usual dramatic and unprofessional way... par for the course. Keep in mind, this is like 2 days before my birthday. What could possibly come next? Tune in and find out.

Note: The link to 12 steps is interesting. I thought that they were much more straight forward in explanation and not religious, ie. shock, denial, anger, acceptance, etc. That was kind of a suprise.

Addendum: Thanks to the comments of a valued source, the 12 steps reference should be replaced by The Kubler-Ross model. TY DR.