Thoughts and Reflections...

It is interesting how life has its ups and downs! Being that I also work in the oil and gas industry alongside my photography sideline, my world started to turn upside down in 2015 with a job loss so great that it even took me by surprise. I didn't see the so-called "red flags" of pending doom as I had seen in the past from other layoffs. Even my Director of Geology didn't see it coming. I was at American Energy Partners in Oklahoma City, OK, at the top of my career as a lead Geological Technical Analyst. Then the industry went into a tail-spin downturn like a roller-coaster
about to plunge over the top of a steep drop. Silently, cuts were made, folks lost their jobs, as did I. Then the death of Aubrey McClendon, founder, and CEO of American Energy Partners, came unexpectedly, which sent a shock through all that knew and worked with him. A great loss to the oil and gas industry.

Three years passed, I moved to Fort Worth, TX, for a contract job, it soon folded due to cash flow issues. Landed another contract job that brought me to Tyler, TX. Beautiful country - the land of Pines and roses! It too soon came to an end within a year and had me moving back to Fort Worth. 

Zoom forward to today... again the job has taken me to Plano, TX, along with caring for my elder mother who has been dealt with vascular dementia disease and debilitated by a major stroke. Although I'm still in the oil and gas industry, I'm here in a different capacity, and outside of my occupational career. I had decided that after a nearly 30-year career as a Geological Technician, it was time to gravitate towards retirement and to find a job where I can transition the experience and knowledge from working in Exploration and Well development, towards a more administrative level position, shelving my technical skills, as it was evident that chapter of my life was closed with no hint of return. 

Thoughts... Life. It's weird.

It sometimes has you scratching your head, saying WTF?! People come and go in your life. Jobs do the same too. Getting old... well that totally sucks. Why the stabbing pain in a joint, for no particular reason at all, that just comes along and hits ya out of the blue! Ouch!

Well, then there's politics... I'm just leaving that there without any further comment. The year 2020 comes along and some insane coronavirus pandemic strikes with vengeance to all living souls in the world! Just have to wonder if this isn't a divine intervention of a wake-up call for all of us! Better take heed, for there is always a reason for why things happen... and you will find that we tiny, insignificant souls on this planet are not in control as we may like to think. Many often have tunnel-vision to recognize that. I've always felt that God has a plan for all of us. It's for our poor choices and sins that seem to be the reason for our own demise.

Everyone couldn't wait for the year 2021 with hopes for things to be better and the end of the pandemic, but yet, it continues to ravage on while a vaccine is created and implemented for all to take with the belief that it will keep everyone safe, all the while the government keeps up the fear-mongering with words of new strain variants that will keep all of us in a world of wearing masks and 6' distancing for who knows how long. It's a faceless, hug-less society in which we live in.

Looking back at my time building a career for myself, I poured my soul into learning and growing a strong skill set, supporting Geos, and wrapping my arms around many complex technical applications that were needed for Exploration and Well development. However, with the job loss and the financial grievances that came with it, I found that I also lost my self-worth and value as an individual. I was lost, asking myself, "now what?" I had turned away from my talent as an artist and the joy of being creative with an open mind of imagination, only to focus on a career that brought great success with achievement, managing complex geological mapping technology. In return, those achievements provided the rewards of a comfortable living without ever wondering if I would have enough funds to put food on the table or be without a home to live in. Word of advice. Don't take blessings for granted. Appreciate what you have and not what you don't have. As all things in life, other than death, are temporary. What is now, will soon change, come and go, for better or worse. 

That being said, I'm now in a position where I'm going back to my artistic roots. Picking up a brush and or pen and create an image worthy of hanging to admire and cherish. This also includes my photography work too, and perhaps even a little story, blogging writing. I took a long sabbatical from enjoying just doing a sort of walkabout anywhere, seeing something that might be worthy of catching the moment. I still love the equine races too, and will occasionally pop in at the track for a few shots. However, I have some ideas to explore along the way... and if I'm successful with achieving them... I will definitely share with all of you! 

So for now.........................stay tuned for what this way may come.  :)