OT-Perspective

[Kansas Ed]

Wichita is in dire times. Jobs are falling like crazy around here. People in need. But I try and think about those that have it worse. I mean really worse. For me it puts things in perspective.

A friend of mine from work was in for routine gall bladder surgery a couple of years ago. While they were operating they found the big C. He’s been in and out of Chemo and radiation for some time now. Still he had a good attitude. Right before the holidays they tell him that he can do only one more radiation treatment, but no more. No more Chemo either. It’s really over…prepare. His wife has missed so much time from work because of this, that she’s lost her job now. Then just before Christmas their hot water heater goes out. People jump in and help. Coming back from his last radiation treatment over the Christmas break someone runs a light and hits his car….breaks his neck. Two vertebra crushed. We got word this week that his propane cook stove has crashed and they need a new one. They are on the verge of losing their house. People are helping as much as they can from work…but he has two teenage kids at home. Still, he has a good attitude. But shortly they will still be without a father.

So, in these dire times remember that it’s all about loved ones and attitude. That’s what’s really important. There are so many more out there that don’t even have that. Keep it in perspective my friends. Life is about so much more than a standard of living.

Just a reminder.

Ed

[Ysabel Kid]

Wow - certainly does put it into perspective. Prayers up...

[Bridger]

I'll be sending up prayers for that man and his family.....darn, that nearly brought tears to my eyes and that ain't easy to do.

[kimwcook]

Prayers his way. Sad story.

I've got a good friend that about five years ago got a divorce. They were married close to 20 years. The wife and I'm not being judgemental or just taking my friends side, is psycho. After the divorce he then finds out his 15 year old daughter is having sex with an almost 40 year old school teacher of hers. Then one of his boy's commits suicide and now the girl that was groomed by the school teacher attempted to commit suicide. And, his dog died (no joke). This guy has the life of Job. To affirm the wife being psycho, he just learned that the ex, after the divorce, allowed the molesting school teacher to stay at her house with the daughter. Plus, the daughter gave dad an excuse about having to attend some type of camp for school. She was lying and was actually going to go camping with the teacher. The wife knew this and gave the daughter $100 to go, to buy some new pajamas. What a whank. I'm surprised my buddy hasn't gotten arrested for puttin' a beatin' on the ex. Honestly, I almost think he'd be justified.

[Travis Morgan]

ED,

I hope you're not in for the latest round of cuts. People here in Wichita really ARE on pins and needles, eh?

[Warhawk]

I left the Wichita area in 2002. I didn't have any idea things were that bad up there.

[Travis Morgan]

Cessna's announced they're gonna lay off at least a thousand, last I heard. MY neighbor across the street works for a print shop that does a lot of aircraft manuals, and he's been told not to come in for a while. They've already cleaned every machine in the shop, and done all the busy work they could.

[rjohns94]

thanks for the message, prayers up

[Kansas Ed]

Yep, Cessna just announced today another 2000 laid off. That's in addition to the 500 or so they laid off a couple of months ago. Hawker-Beechcraft is still to announce, but it's estimated that they are going to drop somewhere between 1000 and 1500 jobs this week, and they gave 450 folks notice a month ago. Of course Boeing already announced 800 in Wichita. Wichita's economy is entirely based on business aviation, so when we lose that many jobs directly in Aviation manufacturing, we lose scores more in everything from machine shops which supply aircraft companies, to suppliers, to retail and auto sales, to real estate, to etc. etc. etc. Even the city and county governments, and school systems are on rocky ledges due to the outflow of people who can no longer afford to live here, and diminish our tax base.

The thing that chaps my *** is that some of this is directly related to congress and Barney Frank. They have totally vilified the business aviation industry..one of the few remaining industries which are largely controlled by US manufacturing. But Brazil and Japan are dying to get into the field and we are facing stiff competition within the next 10 years from those countries which are currently funding their own Business Jet enterprises which are at the ground level. What Congress and Franks is doing is nothing short of economic treason in my book. They have made it politically incorrect for a company to own or operate a business fleet. This isn't the porn industry, this isn't the gambling industry (although state sponsored gambling is OK in Congress's book), this isn't any other shady business...it's good old American ingenuity and hard work. But according to Congress and Frank it's now a taboo business to be in. We can build them, but it's inappropriate for any US company to buy them. So once again our political system has stabbed the American worker in the back, and cost thousands of jobs just to play political games and take the scrutiny off of themselves. All while the Breck girl...Pelosi...flys a government 727 back and forth to California at taxpayer expense. What a crock...

The odds are that our family will get hit by this downturn, and I totally blame Congress for it.

Ed