Feel-good Librarian: Tell me again

Hi, everyone. It’s been almost a year since my last post. Thank you all for your kind emails checking on me, I appreciate that!

While unfortunately our patrons continue to be mostly in job search mode, they stay pretty cheerful through it. I hear them reminding themselves, “I’ve worked before, I’ll work again.” Yesterday a man was helping the woman at the next internet station with the unemployment site and he said, “I’m professionally unemployed. I lost my job a year ago May.” Then he reminded himself, “At least they’re still paying me while I look for work.” A year ago May was when the first manufacturer left here, so he was one of the very first in this area to lose his job. And yet, he keeps coming in, was willing to help someone else out and is still reminding himself that things will get better.

We can all use a reminder. A sort of raggedly dressed man with bags around his feet and a Homeless Shelter nametag handed me a CD. “A lady told me my resume is on there,” he said. “Can you print me out a copy?”

“Sure, we’ll get you on a computer. It’s fifteen cents a copy. How many did you want?”

“Oh.” He stopped. “I don’t have fifteen cents. Uh, can I at least LOOK at it?”

“Well, of course you can.” I put it in and pulled it up on the screen.

“Yeah! That’s it! I need a copy I can send to a boss, I might be able to get a job.”

“Sir, do you have to mail it? Can you email it instead?”

“Can you DO that???!? She said she made me an email....”

“Did you write it down? And do you have the boss’ email address?”

“Just a minute, she gave me the boss’ card. Would it be on there?” He started ripping through his wallet. “Here’s her card right here.” He handed it to me.

“Yes, sir,” I pointed. “Here’s her email address.”

“Can you show me how to do this? I never did email before.”

“Yes, sir, no problem.” I showed him how to get into his account and compose, then downloaded from the CD, attached it and sent. Then I put his resume in the trash and emptied it, to protect his information from others.

By the way, his resume? He has 23 years experience as a welder, at two of the largest manufacturers in the area. He may not know how to send an email, but this man evidently knows what he’s doing with a welding torch.

“All set, sir. It’s sent and you’re good to go.”

“That’s IT??!?” He jumped up out of his chair. “Thank you so much, lady. I can still catch the twenty after bus and just go home. This is a great day!” He gathered up his bags and went off briskly toward the front door.

This man is unemployed and homeless and doesn’t have fifteen cents to his name. But because I helped him, today is a great day.

Well, now.

You know what?

Now that I think about it...

Yes! As a matter of fact, today IS a great day. Thank you, sir, for the reminder.