1994: Last day at DG

Let me preface this day with the night before because it guaranteed my last day was a victory and not a departure-under-a-dark-cloud, aka “I won!”

Two weeks earlier I turned in my resignation. No new job on the horizon, not even prospects. I was headed for joblessness followed by pounding the pavement around Central Illinois or relocating somewhere else. As the final day approached, it appeared that I had made a huge mistake. Financially, yes. With the other categories, not really.

My enemies (it’s the appropriate word), namely the petty asshole Celli, were getting their schaudenfraude on. Others at DG? Maybe. Celli, certainly. The GDW crowd, absolutely. The various dorks at Adventureland, probably.

I continued to follow the routine my life had developed in 1993. The eve before the end was a Wednesday. This meant playing in Andy Powdermaker’s RoleMaster game (like D&D, just more complicated). When I got home, Grandma said I had a phone call from someone named Lee. I knew it was Doc, maybe he received a decision about the offer on the gig in Austin.

Anxiously I called. This was it! Yes or no. Yes? I would be Austin bound. No? I would be crushed and plans for Milwaukee had to be formulated, maybe Chicago.

I can’t recall how things kicked off. In short, Doc told me his boss gave the approval so now the next question was how soon could I be there. I requested two weeks despite tomorrow. I had a damn good explanation.

  • I had to appear in court the following week for the TSR v. GDW lawsuit (more on this later).
  • I needed to make arrangements to ship, pack and/or store my crap. A U-Haul was way beyond my budget. A rental car was the plan.
  • Get travelers cheques.
  • Wrap up my personal affairs with friends in Chicago and Central IL.

We agreed. Doc said congratulations and he’d see me on February 3.

I remember having trouble sleeping. I was too stoked to be sweating the details. Austin, warmer weather and whatever were in my future. Maybe Apple, Brian said all the paychecks came from there, he figured something was happening. Maybe I’d get to see a taping of Austin City Limits or Esther’s Follies (it was still on Comedy Central). Potential was the key. Central IL was done and when all the friends you like have already bailed, one couldn’t get a more obvious hint.

My final day at DG wasn’t a completely bitter experience. The nicer people in the department left a goodbye card. I was glad to inform them the Austin offer came through plus I wanted it to work through the grapevine. I was surprised HR cut me a check for unused vacation time. I’m confident I went walking around the building to say farewell to the people I liked and would miss: Christina remains in touch! Our mutual boss was nice enough to let Rad have a couple hours off to have dinner before I drove home.

I think I apologized to him for matters not working out. I’m sure I burned up some of his karma or clout. Rad got a happy ending a year later by moving to Phoenix. Thankfully there were no hard feelings; we have remained friends too.

Do I ever miss Dynamic Graphics? Looking back, it was a rather easy gig compared to the many things I’ve done since. I blame myself for most things going badly. The wounds inflicted by GDW hadn’t healed. This made me hypersensitive and paranoid about history repeating itself. I was also obsessed with “winning at life.” Now I know somewhat better; you only “losing” if let such stupid crap bother you. Others are often too busy with their own lives and problems, few obsess to focus on hoping you fail.

Anyway, I thought I was leaving DG victorious. I was while running away from my deep-seated problems. It didn’t matter though. The excitement of leaving the cold, dreary Midwest loomed.

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