I turned 21 on June 18, 1982. I was not killed as I had feared. As my life progressed, I flinted from one relationship to the next, each with a person that was only meant to be a temporary passenger on my life’s journey. In 1987, I was asked by a friend if I would agree to become the President of the local Claims Association. I did. It was the sitting Treasurer who informed me that United Services Automobile Association (USAA), a company out of San Antonio, Texas, was coming to New Orleans head hunting for experienced claims personnel. I had never heard of USAA, but was assured that they were a wonderful company to work for and that they insure the military and their dependents. It was around this time that I went to see Louise Decker, a physic from Slidell, LA. Louise told me that I was going to get a new job like the one I have now (I was a property field adjuster) but with more responsibility. It would require me to move to either Mississippi or Texas – she wasn’t sure. While I was not actively looking for a new job, I decided to interview. The interview took place in October 1987 at the Marriott on Canal Street near the river. They gave me a packet with information about USAA. I went by my mom’s house that day to tell her about the interview and that I was going to work for this company. Mom’s response, “I’ll read it when you get the job.” 

I heard nothing for the next few months, while others received no thank you letters, that was until February 1989, when I was invited to travel to San Antonio, Texas for an in-person interview. We agreed on February 14, 1989. I was hired the next day and started work on March 6, 1989. This is how I went from New Orleans, LA to San Antonio, TX almost overnight. 

I was all in, completely focused on my career. I was hired as a Property Specialist I and within six months promoted to Examiner II. Over the next six years, I would be promoted to Subrogation Manager, then a lateral to an Auto DH Manager, then to staff as an Auditor, then promoted to Arson Program Coordinator. This lasts job was eliminated in 1995, and I was moved to the catastrophe team as a Sr. Flood Examiner. You may be asking what does this have to do with An Anthology of Loss, Healing, and Resilience? Plenty! You see it was on the catastrophe team that I met the daughter of the women who in 1998 would be part of the group of friends to take the two weeks advance hypnosis training, and who would be randomly assigned by the instructor to conduct the parts therapy hypnosis session on me that would reveal my pain and finally at long last allow my healing to begin. 

This is a lesson in “EVERYTHING” happens for a reason. Opportunities and people will be placed on our path to help get us where we need to be, if we open and willing to take risks - like me moving to a state where I did not know a single soul and accepting jobs that would place me in a position to meet the people that would help me arrive on my path to heal. 

One of these days I will find a way to chart the opportunities and decisions that lead me to writing these words. Stay open and aware because sometimes that words we need to hear are whispered and sometimes, the come when least expected.