If you read my last blog entry, you know I actually had
concern about taking time off from the day job to have an acting job. Well, after 18 years (first part time, then
part time with some amount of benefits, and finally full time with benefits), I
was kicked to the curb. I am glad I
chose to take the time for the acting gig.
Since I am here as a performer (acting and comedy), I don’t
want to reveal my age, but losing health benefits now is quite frightening.
The circumstances of me getting let go is deep and inevitable
once I had
my third director. It is book
length. It may appear as a series of columns
on my years in adult education.
So at the moment I am unemployed. Haven’t yet received an
unemployment
check.
Once they revealed themselves as a program that would get rid
of our
counselor who helped so many people in such significant ways, I knew I
was next. I saw what was valued and what
wasn’t. Many laughed when I said I was
next. Many thought I was simply wrong
and paranoid. But what they don’t
realize is I grew up under the threat of being put in the foster care
system. My gut knows when I’m going to
be tossed.
When it happened, staff was shocked, jaws hanging, and some
speechless.
Students are bewildered.
Some are truly heartbroken.
Several refuse to
return to that program. The saddest part is some have given up on
school altogether. It must trigger their
PTSD. The people who made them feel good
are gone; the ones they have a hard time with are upgraded. So much of what goes on in the current
government echoes in that program.
Deceit is a big one. Several
people told me to fight it. I do not
want to work with people who don’t want me.
The sad part is the students who, in my mind, I worked for,
DO want me. Some just don’t get it at
all even after I tell them I was let go.
They respond with, “So are you coming back to teach?” Those are the ones who needed a person like
me as their teacher and a counselor like the one we had as a person to talk to.
The Bronx community who benefited from our program lost a
lot.
I personally am in financial fear.
I recently played a homeless woman in a short film. It is scarily
convincing. The director was super thrilled. I’m a bit creeped out.
So if you were thinking about coming to Sunday’s Divorced
Divas of
Comedy show, please do. I need
every dollar I could get. Thank you.
Yowsers
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