When I had one all along.
From Anne Montgomery 

Anyonewho has ever been unhappily unemployed – even for a short time – can testify tothe damaging array of emotions that come with that particular package. So muchof who we are is wrapped up in what we do.

After Iaged out of TV reporting, I often found myself leery of running intoacquaintances: the thought of addressing my lack of a fulltime job enough tomake me queasy.

Whenthe Great Recession hit in 2008, a financial meltdown that saw the nation’sunemployment rate rocket to 10%, there were so many unemployed people thatsupport groups were formed. The unemployed could meet and chat and prop oneanother up amidst their hunt for a paycheck. Being on an extended job searchbecame so common that, I’d like to think, the stigma of unemployment vanishedto a certain extent.

When Iwas without work, there was no one with whom to share my pain. Still married atthe time, my now ex was frustrated that I no longer brought home a bigpaycheck.  I spent my days alone while the world went on without me. I wasleft wallowing in my own self-pity, which, as anyone who has ever lingered inthat neighborhood can tell you, can become an awfully lonely outpost.

Oneafternoon, I returned home from yet another “thanks, but no thanks” interview,this time with a sports bar manager who had not too subtly appraised mybuxomness quotient, multiplied it by my age, and deemed me unworthy, despite myskills with a shaker, my ability to pour a perfect shot every time, andin-depth knowledge of sports that would have kept even sober patronsentertained.

Shortlyafter that, I found a phone message from a temp agency. They’d gotten me a gigworking on the assembly line at a Revlon plant in South Phoenix. I was toreport early the next morning.

Shortlyafter that, I found a phone message from a temp agency. They’d gotten me a gigworking on the assembly line at a Revlon plant in South Phoenix. I was toreport early the next morning.

Now, Ihad always thought I was a tough girl. But I must be honest here. As I picturedmyself Lucy-like – product slipping by on a conveyer belt too fast to handle –I cried. And, unlike that famous red head, I wouldn’t be able to eat my way outof the problem.

Full-timeemployment would evade me for several years, a time during which the only thingthat sustained me was a skill that I had always considered just a means to anend. The fact that officiating amateur sports – an avocation I practiced inorder to get my foot in the door in the sports-reporting business – would putfood on my table was something I had never considered. And yet, it was the oneplace that felt normal, that I still had some semblance of control. The oneplace I felt like me.

The only place I felt comfortable those years I was without afulltime job was on the field, especially with my longtime baseball umpiringpartner Don Clarkson.

There was a rhythm to my worldon the field that, no matter what was happening outside those lines, remainedconstant. Perhaps it was the need for punctuality, the ritual of donning theuniform, or the customary procedures in regard to game management. Maybe it wasthe camaraderie: players, coaches, fans, and fellow officials all involved inan endeavor that mattered to them. Or maybe it was that feeling after the game– whether the contest went smoothly or not – that I had done my best andlearned from my mistakes.

Funny,it sounds like a job.

I wish I’d thought so atthe time.

Here is a brief peek at Anne's latest release.

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to the Graves Registration Service where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Praise for Your Forgotten Sons

“Although a defty crafted work of original fiction, “Your Forgotten Sons” by Anne Montgomery is inspired by a true story. An original and inherently interesting read from start to finish, “Your Forgotten Sons” will prove to be an immediate and enduringly appreciated pick.”  Midwest Book Review

“This was a quick, riveting read that really challenged me to think differently about our servicemen and women, especially those who take on the jobs that don’t get heroically depicted in the media or news…I really highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a different take on American history. I left it with a newfound appreciation for the unsung heroes.” Bekah C NetGalley 

“This is the truth. It’s gritty and painful and bittersweet – and true.  When you think you’ve read every perspective of WWII, along comes Bud to break your heart.” Bridgett Siter Former Military Reporter

“Anne Montgomery writes a strong story and I was hooked from the first page. It had a great concept and I enjoyed that this was inspired by a true story…It was written perfectly and I was invested in the story. Anne Montgomery has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more.” –  Kathryn McLeer NetGalley 

Available at Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Kobo  Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces. When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.
Learn more about Anne on her  website ,  Wikipedia ,  Facebook , Linkedin , and Twitter .