HijabMan For Hire. Getting Laid Off Edition. Check Out My Resume.

by HijabMan :: posted 12 February 09

A few nights ago, after having my haleem (Read: Soupy South Asian Food) checked for explosives (twice by scan and once by visual confirmation), I boarded a flight back to Philadelphia after a week long vacation in Chicago.

“We still need one more person to volunteer to be bumped to the next flight. The volunteer will be awarded a free round-trip ticket.”

My hand shot up. I was escorted off the plane, haleem and all. After providing all of the information requested of me, I was hopping around with the prospect of a free plane ticket. Until they told me to get back on the plane.

Whaaa?

A seat was open. A middle seat. I went from Aisle Seat & Free Plane ticket to no plane ticket and a middle seat. They told me they’d get me a free drink. No drink ever came or was offered.

I had a funny feeling that I was being prepared for something. That something happened Monday morning at 8:00 AM, I was the latest victim of the crappy economy. My work laid me off after 3 years.

Before you start feeling sorry for me. Let me tell you that I am happy. Sure, I’m a bit jarred by the experience— I’m no Super[Hijab]man, but give me a few minutes and let me explain how I’m trying to view this situation. And how I try to frame other situations that, at first glance, look pretty dire.

A couple weeks ago, I was flying back from Houston after photographing a wedding. Just when I thought I was a badass after being showered with praises, God humbled me in a most excellent way. On a packed flight back to Philadelphia, My seat was next to a very very large man. So large, in fact, that at times his arm was in my lap.

Don’t believe me? Here is a straight-on photograph of my belly, from my laptop. His arm reaches nearly half way into my seat. His legs? The same. I had half a seat for a 3 hour flight.

I’m a pretty jovial person, and pretty patient, generally speaking. I played some mental gymnastics, viewed the situation from the future, and was able to laugh about it in the present.

That is, until just as we were about to land. We descended on Philadelphia, but as soon as we were about to touch down, we took off again. God was having way too much fun testing me. I almost lost it. Three hours? And just as You were going to put me out of my misery. The plane took off for another 30 minutes.

Lovely.

Suffice it to say, I’m doing some more mental gymnastics. In my experience, these things are always for the better. A steady, soul-sucking job makes us boring. We play it safe for a regular paycheck that funds our luxuries and our full bellies.

I miss the days of getting by on very little. I miss having to be creative with survival. This is God’s way of telling me, “Javed, you have all of these skills. Look at what you’ve done with HijabMan. Look at how this photography thing is taking off. Do what I made you to do.”

I’m ready for discovering the Plan. I am ready for adventure.

And just in case that doesn’t work, here is my resumé in PDF format. You’ll find that I’m a jack-of-all-trades. Don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m also open for barter/trade of services/a sugar momma.

Ha! Okay back to work.

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1. dina at 12 February 09 :: #

   lollll. you know that God DEFinitely has a sense of humor when you witness days like this…

2. katiktuni at 12 February 09 :: #

   That’s a good way of looking at getting laid off. I hope you have some interesting
   (mis)adventures—more to write/photograph about, you know?
   BTW, another way of describing haleem is “it looks like diarrhea, tastes like heaven.”

3. safia at 13 February 09 :: #

   salaam javed! i am really sorry to hear that. i admire the positive attitude you have. you are one of the most creative people i know and you will get through this. keep going on that track and have faith. inshallah something even better will develop for you. transitions are tough but in retrospect they sometimes are the best things that happen to us. hang in there! you are in my prayers.

4. gulshan at 15 February 09 :: #

   Bravo!! It’s only when life throws you out of a comfort zone, can you stretch and grow..come high or low..it’s all art in the end..so here’s to new beginings…ENJOY! :)

5. Nia at 17 February 09 :: #

   Allah tests those He loves. :)

6. HijabiApprentice at 19 February 09 :: #

   lol @ a sugar momma

7. TMoney at 19 February 09 :: #

   haven’t been able to read your blog in a while, so i’m playing a little catch-up. i saw your gchat message about the job loss. i’m looking forward to what you turn this twist into, bro – your attitude is inspirational. when i lost my job last year, i became a 4th grade teacher at an islamic school – they were the only ones who called back – and now it turns out i hate muslims because of the experience.

   so. don’t do that.

8. muhajababe at 25 February 09 :: #

   you know when something like this happens there is definately something even better waiting around the corner, although you may not see it now, there is always the feeling it does exist and will make your day :) wishing you best of luck