11:01 p.m. - 2007-03-12
LIFE....THE GAME.....
March 12, 2007
HMM....Have I Lived the Life I wanted to live...?? This was a writing challenge on another blogsite.
As a teenager, I thought I had to figure out my life�s path by the time I graduated from high school. I knew we could not afford college and I really didn�t want to go to college at that time so I decided that I would like to be a librarian. I love to read, I loved the library atmosphere and I thought I could be happy surrounded by books on a daily basis for the rest of my life. Then, I found out that a librarian had to go to college so that changed my choice.
When I was a Junior in high school, my mother insisted that I take a typing class. I was so against it. I didn�t think I would like it but as many mothers are...she was right. I loved it, and it led me to take other related school courses in my Senior year.
After graduation, I enrolled in the College of Commerce in our town. I chose the Stenographic course. I learned Speed writing, how to use different office machines, several aspects of office work and fell in love with the entire process. The course was 9 months long. During the last month, the College sent us out on interviews as part of our education. I was very fortunate to be offered a job during an interview and subsequently started my working career a month before the rest of the class graduated. The College did give me my diploma anyway.
I stayed in that job for a couple of years. When my husband and I decided to move to Florida, I gave up the job. However we did not stay in Florida and I was rehired by the same company a few months after our return. I stayed with the same company until the birth of my son. I worked there about 5 years in all.
When our son started first grade, I decided to find a job so my husband did not have to work a part-time job along with his regular police duties. I started as a secretary in an insurance claims office. During my 25 years with that company, I moved up from Claims Secretary to Head Secretary. Then I was promoted to Office Adjuster, Claims Representative and Senior Claims Representative. I spent the last 5 years on the job as a Specialist in Workers Compensation. I loved the work and the various jobs I had all those years. I would have stayed in that position but the company was bought out by another company. Although I tried to continue; the changes in attitude and respect towards the adjusters just finally wore me out. After 25 years there, I retired from that job and immediately went the next week to a law firm. I was a legal secretary for a very ambitious woman attorney. The stress of a new job with different duties was just too much so I left that position six months later.
Again, the next week, I went immediately to another job. This was back in the insurance industry. I worked for an insurance agent. The independent insurance agency sold insurance for several different insurance companies. I was the liaison for the customers and the insurance companies. I ommunicated on a daily basis with insurance companies, adjusters, agents, car repair shops, police, attorneys, rental car companies, claimants and whomever else came along. I enjoyed the work but after 5 years with the agent, I decided to retire. If you have read any of my past blogs recently, you know why I wanted to leave the agency.
I have been retired about 8 months now and enjoy my less stressful life at home.
So, to answer the question....Yes, I did lead the life I wanted.
I did enjoy my working career, I feel I helped many people along the way. I learned a lot about life, people and about insurance. I took insurance courses throughout my career. I have a degree in General Insurance and two Associate Degrees (Claims Handling and Management). I saved some of my money and had a good annuity when I left the insurance company.
I feel that I more than fulfilled my plans for work. I had a career and did a very good job when I was working. I would recommend the same career for anyone. I made many friends and even traveled throughout the United States when my company asked me to help train other adjusters in using the computer with the job. I took about ten 2-week trips in a period of a year and a half for that assignment.
If I were able to do it all over again.... I would. And maybe, this time, I would try to stay with the insurance company in spite of the stresses they caused. I still miss that job and the self-satisfaction I got for doing a good job that I was so proud to do.
The other dreams I had were to be married, have children and enjoy my life. I have been married 42 years on April 10th. We have one son. We talked about a bigger family but financially it seemed too difficult. I still wish we would have tried for one more child so our son would now have a sibling. He is married to a wonderful woman. I wanted to have grand babies because I remember how much I loved my grandmother. I won�t have any babies but I do have two beautiful and wonderful step-granddaughters. I wanted to have a nice house and we do have a lovely home. It is not too fancy but certainly much more than I ever dreamed of so long ago. We have 3 cats which I never dreamed of!
I worked hard and it paid off. I don�t have many regrets and would have to say my life has been extremely good. If I would have changed anything will have to be addressed in another blog.
