General Motors Dispatcher

     I was driving home tonight after another ridiculously-stressful day at the plant.  I had an itch on my driving foot.   It was one of those itches that make you swerve all over the road like a drunkard because you can't get your shoe off, steer correctly and press the gas at the same time.  You know what I'm talking about.  Anyhow, I drove the rest of the way home sweating because it wouldn't stop.  It was terrible.  After I pulled in my driveway and parked my car, I ripped my shoe off and scratched until I successfully removed my epidermis from my foot.  Sweet relief.

    I sat there in the driver's seat with one leg hanging out of the car, the other leg proped up on the "out of the car leg", my sock dangling from my toes and my head pressed against my car seat.  I started thinking about work.  I do it everyday.  I go there and I solve every problem necessary to keep the operation running correctly.  Everyday, there is a new issue that I'm supposed to miraculously resolve, so it seems.  

     The company I work for is running very lean right now and I know for a fact it is directly related to the fuel prices.  They had a huge pow-wow last month about them.  Ever since then, people within the company have been becoming more and more volitle.  I'll never forget about two weeks ago my boss told me, "Fuel is going up twenty cents a gallon tomorrow.  You make your drivers top off everyone of those tanks."   That's when I knew things were getting tight. 

     There's evidence of frustration that is intensifying by the day.  Just last week a driver manager sent an e-mail in all capital letters to my boss, basically screaming about the fact that we don't have enough drivers to cover our shift.  It's not our fault.  Driver's don't grow on trees and they certainly can't work if you don't hire them.  It looks like the company is spreading itself very thin to try and conserve some money.  They are creating nothing but chaos.  

     To be honest with you, I don't like my job.  There is a certain level of comfort there at this moment, but it's slowly diminishing by the day.  I guess it's because when I leave at 2 a.m. in the morning, I'm already thinking about having to be back at work at 3 p.m. that same day.  I have to try and fit everything I need to do into about four hours of free time.  I leave work with a headache every night. 

      So, I'm still sitting in my car, itching my foot and suddenly as I'm thinking all of this...I had an epiphany.   I really think that oil is ruling my life!!  Oil, gas, fuel, whatever you want to call it...is nothing but trouble.  It is a burden to our civilization.  It's worse than a drug addiction.  We HAVE to change our ways. 
 
      WWO has made me understand the pattern of this society of convience.  The higher the demand for convience, the higher the price.  Until society gets a grip on this factor,  it'll never change.  It's sad.

      WWO has also made me realize that I have abilities that I can utilize in order to earn a living that do not involve oil use at all.  I can write, I think.  If I could do WWO all over again...I'd change many things.  People tell me that I'm too critical of myself and I agree.  I just hope that you enjoyed my story.  I put a lot of thought into it and really worked to make it plausible and realistic.  If anything...it was real to me.

      I'm going to miss this excersize, but it's just the beginning of something great for me.  It's time that I went back to school, put my head to better use and stop letting "oil" rule my life.  Thanks again, friends.  You've changed my life.

And now I command you to keep on rockin' in the ARG world!  =)  

Sincerely,
Melissa Richards        

Current Mood: touched

      Since this crisis began, I have rediscovered a passion that I held dearly to me for so many years of my life.  Writing is what I love.  I have always found solitude in creating or conveying information through writing.  I used to write stories, poetry, short scripts, short films and anything else that required creativity.  Before the oil shock, I hadn't written anything in almost two years. 

      I spend almost all of my free time on WWO.  I read all the blogs I can.  I watch all the new videos.  I listen to the audios and look at the pictures.  I love reading everyone's stories.  I do it everyday because even though there's fighing, looting, and sadness outside my window, I am connected to those who keep me strong despite it all.

     This has been my "Whatever Without Oil" since the very start.  I can't express exactly how it makes me feel when I know that I have been enlightened by this experience and   take pride in documenting this crisis.  I am proud to part of such an awesome community of people who really want to make a difference in the world.  

     
     
     

Current Mood: ecstatic