After having two really nice Christmases and New Year’s Eves in a row (1995 & 1996), I stumbled somewhat with 1997. The year had turned sour half way through August while in Las Vegas with PowerComputing and then came Grandpa’s terminal illness. I rapidly moved to Raleigh in the Fall to avoid unemployment for fear of 1997 morphing in 1992 II. Risk aversion became a huge priority when I bought a car because it was the biggest loan I had ever taken out in my life.
By November I realized Raleigh just wasn’t for me. It was Indianapolis with a different accent, more Canadians and winning college franchises. What seemed to be the smarter decision morphed into an expensive, unwise one. I had also taken a part-time job as a projectionist at the nearby movie theater since I underestimated the bite state income tax would take from my “higher” income. When December rolled around, I felt something had to give; the job wasn’t what PSW promised and Raleigh was no Austin, it wasn’t even Milwaukee.
It sounds awful yet it wasn’t completely. After working all day at Nortel, the projectionist gig was a nice change of pace, especially the soap opera involving two assistant managers’ affair. Once the movies were running, I could read a book, write a letter or catch the majority of a film. The opportunity allowed me to complete all my Christmas cards that year. I recall they were quite good too even if they weren’t as clever as 1995’s favorite (ask Helen).
Obviously, I had to work on Christmas Day at the theater but it didn’t bother me. Nortel was closed until January 5th which provided time to rest, run errands or see the big releases as a patron. Being a contractor for PSW, all my accrued vacation got burned up to cover the time anyway, I figured getting in extra hours elsewhere would help pay the bills. It turned out for the best too. My family didn’t get together; we were still grieving over Grandpa and I wanted to be alone to mull over my options in Raleigh while working on the Plan B to return to Austin.
I don’t really dislike 1997 as much as I used to. I look back on it more as a long stretch of working excessively, being too serious and not taking the opportunity to enjoy the free time.