Job Hunting - Not Just for Old Ladies

The closest to perfection a person ever comes is when he fills out a job application form.

Stanley J. Randall

All this talk of weddings and college visits and choices has bypassed another son in my house. One embarking on a new adventure. Remember Jordan? The boy who raises fawns?




And kills rattlesnakes?

Tucked in the middle of that wedding and high school graduation is the completion of a Bachelor's degree in biology -- trip to Arizona for my husband and me to see that boy grasp his diploma. And, of course, college graduations bring gainful employment where children elope from parent's payrolls. Permanently. Right. RIGHT!

In the file of resumes I've kept on my desktop for ready use this past year, Jordan's has the freshest face. Young, unattached, eager to take on the world -- everything he owns will fit in his car, opening up the many possibilities he's finding countrywide that offer his next adventure.

While completing 17 hours of study to adhere to the four year tuition schedule allotted by his parents (those dwindling funds now assigned to his younger brother) each day he searches the wildlife websites for open positions, adjusting his resume and cover letter to fit the job. A science guy, he has utilized his mother's typing fingers to tighten up the verbiage. Makes me feel useful and I'm glad he's asking. (I can fix other people's sentences much better than my own.)

Impatiently, he checks his email to await responses to his applications. Nothing yet. But the windows keep opening, he keeps applying, and he is ready to fly.

If I compare his possibilities to mine, the Midlife Jobhunter, I see a much broader skyline in his search. Youth backs his flight. Although his credentials may not contain as many skills or as much experience as mine, he is more employable simply because he is young, flexible, willing to relocate, and has the energy to work long hours and get his hands dirty.

Not to say midlifers can't do that, but a definite difference exists for those of us no longer trained in the newest technologies. Those that have too much baggage to pack up all our belongings in our Civic and head off down the road. Those that can physically no longer take on the tasks that younger years offered.

Makes for a most exciting time for this young son. One that will strike out on his own and has not completely figured out how exciting life will be.

Another one - that I once carried in my arms - all grown up.

Some Days Need Few Words

My son and his fellow intern have ten days left working with these beauties. I'm certain they will remain imprinted on their minds for a long time to come.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Babies are always more trouble than you thought - and more wonderful.

Charles Osgood

We traveled to see Son #2 last week at his internship in south Texas. We found the Wildlife Management boy mired in 17 baby deer. I don't recall ever having such a sweet experience. Finding myself surrounded by these 2-3 day old beautiful creatures brought on a love of young life I hadn't felt in some time.

Each had its own distinctive face. Personalities emerged as they found their legs and kicked their heels to play with the resident dog, a dachshund, eager to spend his days making sure everything ran correctly. Most fun dog.

Oh, yes. This is what's left of the first rattlesnake Jordan had to kill (head and rattles removed before the big gut and stretch.) I wasn't quite so keen on seeing that worthless sucker, but preferred him stretched out on a board to side-winding beside me.




One of those sweet faces warmed up to me. I was thrilled. Even got to bottle feed the babe and dot its butt with toilet paper while it peed. (Apparently mothers in the wild do that to ensure no scent is left for predators. Hence, my Jordan is its mother.)

He was saying they are not quite learning how to do that themselves even though for some of the babies, it is time. I reminded him the greatest gift a parent can give is to instill independence. I think he is on that task now.


I was thankful to discover these beauties will be sold for breeding purposes only and not for deer hunting forays. Three hours with them was fun. I'm thinking Jordan - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, will be glad for a day off come August. So internships go. After the south Texas heat, I'm thinking he'll also be ready for Flagstaff weather - and his senior year.