Read a story about three Colombia grads, who stumbled into the confectionary business. Unable to find work upon graduation, one moved back with his parents. Another went with him, suffering the particular indignity of moving home with someone else's parents.
After a movie, they inadvertently left a bunch of snacks in the car, which melted together. After, two bet the third he wouldn't eat the resulting mix of chocolate, gummi bears, popcorn and what ever else. Not only did he win the bet, but also he actually enjoyed it. So of course, in Walter Mitty style, they borrow $, and started a candy company.
What's interesting isn't that they staggered blindly into some ridiculous candy concoction, via a hot automobile. No. How can three guys who graduated Ivy not find work? And their best prospect is the result of forgetfulness?
Who knows what they were searching for. Or how? How many jobs they'd refused? How motivated they were? But what chance do any of the rest of us stand if Ivy League kids go unemployed?
During the planning stages of my LA move, my stepdad asked how much money I had saved. It was then that I realized that the financial reports on television, and NPR statistical analysis all became real to me. My annual cost-of-living raises hadn't nearly kept pace with the actual cost of living. Not only did I have no money banked, I'm in truth poorer than I was five years ago. Twenty-plus years of work, and what do I have to show?
Our parents didn't have unpaid internships, probationary periods, three-part interviews, or fears about their jobs suddenly vanishing to the Philippines, after 20 years.
Worried this may make me sound a Tea Partier. Just the opposite. I don't blame the politicians for "taking" my country, so much as I blame businesses, their policies, for diminishing the already undervalued worth of the American worker. Also the American public, who allows this to happen without making much noise.
Am leaving food in my car for a couple of days, hoping for the best.
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