THE PINK SLIP BUS - is coming to a town near you
Harry Nelson

On February 11, 2002, the Pink Slip Party Bus begins its sojourn to parts unknown. I’m leaving from Boston, MA., with Brian, another fellow Pink Slipper, will be heading for San Jose to pick up other friends.

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As a Technical Trainer for a Silicon Valley based high tech company, I often traveled from my office in Wilmington, Massachusetts to the company’s San Jose, CA headquarters. On my last trip in September of 2001, I noticed ads for Pink Slip parties in a Silicon Valley community newspaper. Due to a substantial number of layoffs in the Silicon Valley, considerable numbers of people were gathering at these parties. I thought this a little odd but could understand how people who had suddenly lost jobs would want to commiserate, network and possibly celebrate their newfound freedom. Little did I know, I would soon find myself wishing I had a pink slip party to go to!

On September 11, less than an hour before the terrorist attack, I was in the quarterly ‘All Hands’ meeting in Wilmington. A San Jose corporate officer was painting a rosy financial picture for the company. He explained that several key equipment orders had been secured and our pay cuts from 6 months previous would be ending. Before the end of the meeting, someone ran into the room and announced that the World Trade Center had been hit buy an airplane. We then all watched the events unfold on television. Two weeks later, we reconvened for another ‘All Hands’ meeting. This time we received very different news, our plant was to be closed and everyone would be laid off. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe how much things could change in two weeks.

I LOVED my job. The leading-edge technologies I dealt with and the wonderful people I met while traveling all across the country were extremely stimulating and satisfying. I enjoyed this job so much that I had planned on sticking with it until retirement and suddenly…I was, of sorts, retired.

I spoke with friends all around the country that were experiencing unemployment. The thought of the Pink Slip parties in California kept coming to mind. I would enjoy commiserating with my friends. Then the idea hit me.
I would put together a pink slip party of my own…a mobile version. I have an ex-greyhound bus that I used as a transporter for my race vehicle. Racing would be out of the question this year, but how about taking the party on the road?

I decided to contact friends around the country to see if anyone would be interested in LIVING…instead of freaking out about losing jobs. I usually started the conversation with, "Do you have a job yet? No? How would you like to go for a bus ride?"

On February 11, 2002, the Pink Slip Party Bus begins its sojourn to parts unknown. I’m leaving from Boston, MA., with Brian, another fellow Pink Slipper, will be heading for San Jose to pick up other friends. The route West has not been decided, as we are hoping to make contact, via email, with other adventurous Pink Slippers’ and picking them up along the way. Employment is inevitable, lets enjoy this unplanned vacation now.

• Stories from the Pink Slip Bus will appear here from time to time and you can email them directily if you want to
GET ON THE BUS!

(Hackwriters supports Harry Nelson and his enterprising way of dealing with this enforced retirement and wishes him and Brian the best of luck with this journey).

email Harry now
E-MAIL: TEKGUYONROAD@YAHOO.COM
Want to contact Harry?
Tel USA (617) 901-3845

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