Wednesday, September 16, 2009

don't look back

today i made the mistake of peeking at my former employer's web site only to see something i'd been working on for years come to fruition. one of my responsibilities was interviewing retailers and writing cover stories about their businesses. as soon as i took the job there was one retailer in particular that everyone talked about, who was highly respected/liked in the industry and i thought would make a great cover. although i built a great relationship w/ said retailer, he was always adamant about not being on the cover. at our conference this spring (prior to being laid off) he FINALLY (after 3 yrs) agreed to be a cover story for a big issue this fall. i was thrilled. i suppose i thought once i left he wouldn't do it, since he's a very private person and said it was my perseverance and personality that won him over (along w/ prompting from some of our common industry friends).

now the story is done--not a cover story, but a story. it is written by the person who took over my other old job at a sister publication. so very surreal to see that. i couldn't bring myself to read the story.

when i first got laid off i followed the magazine on twitter and checked the web site almost hourly. i was obsessed and hurt and wanted to see what was going on in my absence. months ago i stopped checking in. it just didn't matter to me any more. no idea why i looked today, other than it's a big week (trade show-wise) for that industry and some of my friends on fb have been commenting about it. it's the first time in about 7 yrs that i've not been to this season of trade shows. granted, i do not miss all the travel i used to do. but, i do miss the friends i'd made and being in the loop.

7 comments:

Fragrant Liar said...

The universe works in mysterious ways, eh? That you looked today when there was something you had worked on before you left seems fortuitous. I know it hurts a bit, but it also has to make you feel good that all your hard work made them look good. Without you, that guy probably wouldn't even be on the front cover.

And now on to bigger, brighter, better things. You are enough (and awesome) just as you are.

Hugs,

Hotch Potchery said...

Asshats.

Not Your Aunt B said...

Douches.

drollgirl said...

i hope you can find ways to keep in touch with the friends you made along the way. it is funny how some stick around as friends, and others just drop off never to be seen again. just kind of weird.

Ali said...

That must have really sucked to see. You know, I'm pretty sure that awesome things are going to come to you in the near future for make up for all this crud.

Gal Friday said...

Aw, I feel for you and I think I would be the same way--no way would I be able to read through that story that should have been yours.
Like Ali already expressed, I KNOW there are better things ahead for you

Astarte said...

Oh, I'm so sorry. My feelings were hurt for you just from reading about it. I would have been upset and sad, and betrayed-feeling too. It sucks that the world does indeed go on without us, and that loyalty isn't what we'd like it to be a lot of the time, and being reminded of that fact when you're feeling pretty low already isn't helpful at. all. :( It's totally their loss, and it's NOT a cover article, so I suppose there's that. Too bad he didn't tell them to go take it up the ass, though, that would've been SWEET. Since he didn't, I will - Go bugger yourself, AssMag!