Prologue
Leslie and I met in February of 2017. I was in my fifties, and he was in his sixties. If we had met earlier, we probably would be celebrating something close to our 35th wedding anniversary. Instead, we’ve spent a glorious eight years (and counting) together but actually haven’t gotten around to getting married yet. We got engaged December 21, 2022. We call each other husband and wife but never got around to corralling our kids for a wedding. Still, these continue to be the best years of our lives for both of us.
Then came November of 2023.
November 12 was my company’s Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch. I woke up at 5 a.m. to make the sides for the noon event. I signed up for five. I had been reading Good Housekeeping, Allrecipes and Better Homes and Garden, clipping Thanksgiving recipes to try. I made spiced carrots, sauteed asparagus, a sweet potato quiche, baked apples and another dishe I don’t remember.
I arrived around 10:30 a.m. The office was beautifully decorated and already smelled amazing. The Potluck Lunch was sure to be a hit. Our office manager Isabel had a gift. She had impeccable taste in holiday décor and made the best slow-cooked Spanish Pork I’ve ever tasted. As usual, it was a big hit and there was so much delicious food that by the time I got home, I couldn’t even eat dinner. After telling Leslie all the details, I said good night and went up to bed early.
Around 9 p.m. Leslie startled me. He yelled up from downstairs that he needed to go to the hospital.
“What? Now?” I asked.
“Yes!” he yelled. “I have a kidney stone. I need to get to the hospital.”
I had no idea anything was brewing. I wasn’t even sure he did either. He was prone to kidney stones and was acutely aware of what was happening.
I was not.
Nor was I prepared to take him to the hospital.
I had popped a sleeping pill when I got to our bedroom so I could sleep through the night because I was so super charged from the fun day.
Therefore, we had to enlist help from his son Adam who was living with us at the time to save money to buy a house.
He drove us to the hospital. They put Leslie in a room and put him on IV pain killers while they ran tests.
I was slumped in a chair, slurring my words, trying to stay awake. The sleeping pill had seriously kicked in. After about an hour of trying not to fall out of the chair, I asked Adam to take me home. Leslie was out of pain and promised to give us an update in the morning.
That was the start of it all…
What should have been a simple few-days procedure took two grueling months. Everything that could have gone wrong, did.
***
On December 1, 2023, I woke up at 5 a.m. excited to welcome the winter season by changing the décor of our house from Thanksgiving and fall to the holidays and wintertime. At 8 a.m., I saw on my work calendar that I had a meeting with my boss, the Chief Marketing Officer. It was the exact same time as it was last year when he met with everyone individually to discuss raises and bonuses. He had been talking about it for the last six months. This felt like a special day. We were still working remotely. I jumped into the shower and got dressed up for the Zoom call scheduled for 9:30 a.m. I was so excited. I had done my best work so far and I knew he thought so too. My husband and Adam wished me luck, kissed me goodbye and went to work.
I sat down at my computer ready to start this great day when I saw the message that would change my life.
“It’s bad news,” my CMO wrote.
“And an HR representative would be joining us on the call.”
The panic hit me first. I was getting fired.
Instantly and as fast as I could, I texted all my friends aka co-workers to ask them if they knew what was happening. I told them that I was sure I was getting fired. And asked if they knew anything about this. I also wanted to make sure I had their contact information to stay in touch if the worst was true.
Then I called my husband.
“I’m coming home,” he said.
“No. I’ll call you once I know the details,” I insisted.
“We are going to get through this,” he said. “I promise. I am here for you. Whatever it is, we are in this together.”
My company had been going through some restructuring for about a year or so post-Covid. There were two rounds of firings management said were to “trim the fat.” I was still there. I loved my job. I loved the people I worked with. It was a very special place. The marketing team would regularly get together after hours just to hang out. That’s how much fun it was. I worked there for five years. I made friends. I looked forward to every day. I always said I was going to die there because I never wanted to leave.
At 9:30 a.m. I logged into the Zoom call. The HR rep was there. The CMO, the man who hired me, mentored me, advised me on how to succeed, fired me unceremoniously within seconds of starting the call.
Still shocked despite assuming it was coming, I said flabbergasted, “But you’re the one who hired me. Five years ago,” as if that mattered.
“I know. That’s why I am personally delivering the news,” he said as if that would somehow soften the blow.
Completely devastated, scrambling for something to say to somehow help myself get another job, I said. “Can I use you as a reference.”
He said, “All I can do is confirm your employment.”
Wow, what a shithead.
“I am going to mute Zoom so HR can answer all of your questions,” he said.
Ten minutes later, I was locked out of my laptop. The one that had all of my information, both professional and personal, on it. Five wonderful years of my life were over. I had no idea what to do. Where to go. I was devastated. I buried my mother when I was 29. And my father in 2019, but I had never experienced this level of loss before. The depth of grief that enveloped me seemed insurmountable. It felt like my life was over. My future was gone. I started to cry. I cried and cried and cried. I felt that grief from the bottom of my soul.
I called my husband back, wailing into the phone. The crying was uncontrollable.
“I’m coming home,” he said again.
“Wait an hour please,” I asked between sniffles. “I have to pull myself together.”
It didn’t work. I cried that entire day. I cried getting gas. I cried buying wine. I cried when we went to buy a new laptop.
I cried and drank wine all day while responding to hundreds of texts once word got out about what had happened. The love and support were so overwhelming that it made me cry even more.
When night finally came, my husband said, “Let’s get you out. Change the scenery. Let me take you to your favorite restaurant. Hang out with different people who love you.”
I said, “Ok.” But when I stood to get off the couch, I could barely walk. I had tried to bury my grief in wine and had too much.
“I think I’ll just go to bed,” I said. “But I never want to forget what happened today because I couldn’t bear to relive it again tomorrow.”
I was 62 years old and had to find a way to start all over again.
***
The days, weeks and months that passed were a blur. My days were filled with completing job applications, interviews and taking writing tests, but nothing materialized.
It turned out that about a dozen or so people were let go on that third round of firings. I worked closely with six of them. We started a group text to have someone to check in with at the start of the day. It ended up being a great place for moral support and encouragement.
On February 5, 2024, my company closed its doors. Unbeknownst to many of us, there were some shady dealings going on. The SEC had been investigating and indicted three individuals. The remaining people were either let go or absorbed into other companies under the corporate umbrella. I suppose I was one of the lucky ones. I almost felt grateful. At least I got a decent severance package and had my 401K.
Leslie and I continued with our life. I sought employment and interviewed regularly while he supported us. The longer it took for me to find a job, the more unproductive, saddened and useless I felt. I have worked since I was 15 years old.
Leslie’s job description expanded to include cheering me up on a daily basis. He encouraged me when I couldn’t muster the enthusiasm myself and supported me unconditionally. That’s when he had the brilliant idea of taking us on a mini vacation. A hassle-free, seven-day cruise out of Port Everglades, an easy drive from our house that surely would get me out of my funk, clear my head and rejuvenate my job search.
I was thrilled. Finally, I had a job! Planning a trip.
I love vacation planning. It has been a lifelong avocation. And I dive deep. By the time we leave on any trip, I know as much as possible about the places we are going to visit. What to see, where to eat, souvenirs to buy. All of it. I drilled down. Get granular. Every second is planned, including when to relax.
This trip was all about luxury. Effortless exploring on the ship and fun half-day shore excursions. We were to hit four ports and had two days At Sea. Leslie won an upgrade to our room from a balcony to a mini suite. We bought the Thermal Package to luxuriate in the giant whirlpool, waterfalls, steam room and sauna. We had specialty dining and top-of-the-line drink packages. All of the professional photos were included. We packed four suitcases for seven days. Each day had two themes. One for the days. The other for photos and dining in the evenings. I was in my glory.
The ship didn’t disappoint. It was spectacular. Living in Florida for 50 years, I have been on many cruises. But on this one, Leslie went all out. We wanted for nothing.
We embarked on the ship at noon so that our vacation could start as soon as possible. We basked in the Florida sun shining off the ocean, toasted with Champagne and canapes on our balcony. We watched the pink, orange, red and gold sunset from our room before heading out to a fabulous meal. And that was only day one.
Day two was At Sea. It started with Room Service for breakfast. Lounging poolside. Speedwalking on the top deck of the ship. We talked about playing ping pong and shuffleboard later. We participated in Origami, a Trivia Contest and a Lottery game. Then we spent an hour in the Thermal Spa, melting away any muscle soreness and tension before dressing for dinner at the ship’s steak and seafood specialty dining restaurant.
We ate fresh oysters, lobster, steak and a chocolate souffle for dessert. The premium drink package included one of my favorite new wines; Belle Glos Pinot Noir with a hand-dipped, seductively curved red wax seal around the top of the bottle. We took in one of the evening’s Broadway-style Musicals before retiring for the night.
Day three we docked in Cozumel. It was our first shore excursion.
The Reddy Life 