We ran past anniversaries.  Flew by them.

Without suffering the fate of the couples we knew—

trashing one another, calls to arms—no happiness, only sorrow.

 

We were only dreaming when we left college together.

Our love seemed to have been home grown for years,

opening windows to let in the light, holding hands.

 

We lost our first house in Oklahoma as the S&L crises hit, hard—

owned 2 weeks.  My oil and gas company was among the first

to lay off staff, even though it managed the pipelines and supplied

the gas to OG&E.  And made tons of money doing so.

 

You see, during a recession it’s easy to justify shedding staff to improve

a healthy bottom line.  It happened right after my Blaine County deep well

tested 750K cfgas/d before completion, no less.  Just two weeks prior

the CEO bragged how “we” bought a famous CA winery he’d seen on TV

for the investment.  A VP also advised it was a greaaaat time

to buy a house for a new baby.  Golden tongue words.

 

Though when later questioned, both thanked me for my significant “find,”

capped with a knowing smile and hearty good luck handshake…

These are tough times, you know?

 

The CEO also headed the bank from which we got the mortgage,

and advised I’d get the deposit back… without success.

So we went on TV news to plead our case, which was broadcast

all the way to Dallas/Fort Worth.  This displeased OG&E,

and secured the help of Senator Boren who happened to head

the Banking & Finance Committee.

 

As luck would have it that worked.

Weeks later some 50 auditors poured through the bank’s books

and shut it down.

No one went to jail, it’s only money, white collar crime, after all.

 

Did we survive?  And why?

Did we have enough for rent and to eat on $189 weekly unemployment checks?

Let’s face it, for some states it’s common to see being out of work as one’s fault.

Did we make sacrifices, lack insurance, live in a one bedroom, drive old cars,

wear old clothes?

 

Did the U.S.G.S want to hire me but more MS & PhD geologists worked

for Burger King and McDonalds than worked for O&G companies?

 

Did I find other work, including getting on with the company known for

the so-called Karen Silkwood “incident?”

Were we transferred halfway across the country, yet again?

 

If I had stayed in the business, would I now be a multi-millionaire

like the friends I knew?  Or end up broken and bankrupt like others?

 

Let’s honor each other, the purveyors of our love.

Along with the sun and the rain.

In this old house of beauty and pain.

My love, my everything.

Stephen Cipot

Garden City Park