Procedure writers’ positions were going away and opportunities were bleak. We had five Maintenance Procedure Writers at Hope Creek. First one to leave was our electrical procedure writer. He went to security as a Supervisor. Next person out was our mechanical writer. He went to training. Just before he left he dropped me a turd, stuck me with dry cask project. There were three writers left, all I&C (Instrumentation & Control) writers. Of the three remaining I&C writers, I had the best quals, only one with a college degree. Of the three I had more nuclear experience. Only two I&C writers were ex Navy nukes (I was one of them). I’ve got more procedure writing experience in the group. Soooo, when two procedure writers’ positions open up in Hope Creek operations, I figured I was sure to land over there. No such luck. The other two I&C writers got the positions because they were former technicians at Hope Creek. I was only a writer at Hope Creek. Things were getting bleak. Come December 31 good old brianric was out the door at 56. Too young to retire, to old to find another good paying job. Finally was offered a thankless position in Corrective Actions. Sort of like being a cop. Someone screws up, you investigate and if write a report. Makes you real popular with what few remaining friends you may have had. Not only that, it was a salaried position, expected to work 60 to 70 hours a week, and still help out in procedures, since I was still in the same department. Procedure writer is an hourly position. I went on vacation, due to come back last Monday to start my new position. A funny thing happened. While on vacation I received an email from my supervisor last Friday, on my last day as a procedure writer. Due to the dry cask project my position as procedure writer was being extended. There were some discussions with various people when I came back from vacation about my Corrective Actions position. I went to my boss and told him that I never wanted the new position, but I was being forced into it. I then told him if he made me permanent as a writer I would not bid out of the department. He told me that is what he wanted to hear. Tuesday morning at 11:15 AM I was told my position is permanent. Here I was on my last day in total despair as a writer expecting to go in a much hated position, when I was rescued from hell. I’ve had many ups and downs in life, and every time I hit rock bottom, someone or something comes to my rescue. I don’t know what you call it, but I believe I have a Guardian Angel that is looking over me, and it is my beloved Grandpa McKinnion. What do you think?
BTW, the four former writers are envy of my luck. The Security Supervisor and Training Instructor hate their new jobs. They are salaried, working 60 to 70 hours a week. The two that went to operations as writers despise their new department. I just love going down this trail called life, you never know what to expect. Thank you Guardian Angel for rescuing me once again. Woohoo.