A leaf in a whirlwind

Last week was like a country song — my dog died, my job radically changed and my family was left in a position that gives me acid reflux.  And all that was after coming off the huge high of running my first marathon and raising $13,000 for cancer research.  It got so ridiculously bad that I was waiting for my mother to get “runned over by a damned ol’ train.”  I was defeated. I was deflated.

I got the bad news on Thursday.  Someone leaked it on Facebook and soon my page was lighting up like a Christmas tree. People were very supportive.  The phone started ringing.  TV stations wanted me to comment — I chose not to.  My focus was no longer on the past (my amazing career at The Clarion-Ledger.).  It was on my future. What was I going to do now that I have to grow up?  I had to make sense of my new, reduced role at the paper.  I had to find out how to get health insurance coverage for my family.  And I had to do in a hurry what I should have been doing for the past couple of years: Build a lifeboat.

I almost went to Tulsa a couple of years ago. I turned down a very lucrative job offer there to stay in Mississippi. Why? I believe in this state. But that crossed my mind a few times last week.  Did I make the right move?  I also did a radio show (filling in for Sid Salter) the day my job changed. I did three hours of radio while I was in shock.  But the funny thing is, I did a pretty good job.  Part of me wonders if that is in my future as well.

I had to mourn my dog and my job. Cobble together a way to keep my family safe and then start planning for the future. All in two days.

But the encouragement kept pouring in.  I heard from people in high places and I heard from everyday Mississippians. People are behind me 100%. My cousin Dave sent the most amazing e-mail — it lit a fire under me and got me moving.  A great project came my way at my church.  And thankfully I got to keep drawing so you can see my cartoons. And as a bonus, I can work from the house. The windows are opening up after the door slammed in my face.

Here’s what I’ve done so far.  I’ve laid the foundation for the future. I now have an LLC.  That means I have a new business called Tiny Wheels Media. (named after the wheels on my cars I draw). It’s not a business to compete with any of the other media entities out there –it’s a way for me to put all my talents under one fiscal roof.  I’ll be a speaker. A cartoonist (for The Clarion-Ledger and Creators Syndicate). An illustrator.  A book salesman. And a motivator.   I’m also working on some other potentially exciting deals.

Back when I was a janitor, I fell into the trap of feeling sorry for myself.  I broke out that trap by using my talents.  Twenty years later, I intend to do it again — just this time much better.

Life is changing rapidly and I think it’s for the better.  I appreciate everything from my past. I cherish the great things that are coming in the future. And I’m blessed to have a wonderful family and friends.     I’m a leaf in a whirlwind right now.  But I know I’m going to land in a great place.