Yesterday my husband and 56 other stalwart souls went to the chopping block, courtesy of a person who has never known hunger or lack of a roof over his head.
He waited until Tuesday to fire 57 employees using a scattershot approach, using Monday to go to his stock broker and sell off over $3 million dollars worth of personal stock at $22 per share, before it tanked to $7.71 yesterday and $7.51 today.
Excuse me, SEC, are you reading this? We’ll land on our feet, but in this economy it may take a while. One may fare better in a large bureaucracy than in a cult of personality, at least that’s what I tell my better half.
But the story is about buttons. My husband has many Stetson shirts and I send them to be laundered, because while my cooking is great, my ironing is not. They have these signature buttons that have fallen off and been replaced but now he has one shirt that makes him look unemployable with the various buttons that have been put on by the laundry.
I’ve written to Stetson several times and offered to pay for replacement buttons, because these shirts are work wear out west. So I got a package from an unknown person at an unknown address (yes, I’ve a thank-you note written and ready to go in the mail tomorrow) full of buttons! That has to be a good omen for 2012.
My husband and I don’t exchange holiday gifts but the dog did go to Bed, Bath and Beyond and buy me a $20 heater to warm the room so I could take a bath. But my best and most heartfelt holiday gift was the Stetson buttons. Thank you!
Yesterday was a tough day, with the layoffs, but we’ve gotten so many calls and referrals in less than 24 hours that I already see a light through the tunnel.
Buttons. Every call, email and letter is a button to make tomorrow a better day. I’ll never look at buttons in the same way. They’re individual gifts for which we’re grateful. Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 
When I get our signature quilt back from Jim’s mom, where two quilts are for safekeeping, I want a Stetson button on there with her random pattern of bling. She is an artist so I’ll merely give her the button and let her make it a keepsake.
I know you’ll land on your feet! And seriously, if Martha Stewart can go to jail, surely the shenanigans you write about merit similar treatment!
Thanks so much! We’re working on it and luckily there’s no shame attached. Unless the world works another way and welcomes the Martha Stewarts, Jeffrey Skillings and Bernie Madoffs back into society with open arms. Even Casey Anthony is coming out of hiding because she misses seeing her name in the news. For those who think any mention in the press is good, even if it’s horrific, God bless ’em. I can’t think about them as I’ve an honest, decent, hard working husband who needs a job. Thanks, Dee