Tim, I am just back online after a weekend hiatus, and I am so sorry to hear this news. I know how much pride you take in your work, and how much you enjoy it, this is awful. It feels a little like a divorce--I hope you'll stay in touch with your work friends. You know, I have to agree with the advice about looking around and thinking about relocating. Heck, go to Seattle and check out that area. I just looked and it seems there are well over a hundred auto body shops. (Check this: http://www.yelp.com/topic/seattle-auto-body-shops) Tet gave you some great advice--I'd just add to put some photos like the before and after ones you showed us of that red car you brought back from the dead--get them all online and easily accessible for prospective employers. grins, yes, I mean that, as you have your health, your great kids, and oh, yeah, us! And I believe you are going to come out on top AND have one great adventure in the process. Best wishes and with hope, A

Tim, I read your post and didn't really know what to say. Years ago I was in a management class which I really thought was a waste of time. I really wasn't interested in management at the time. In the course handout was a quote from Charles Swindoll. I still have the page hanging in my cube at the office. "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes. " ~ Charles Swindoll I really bought into this and try to apply it to everything I do. It's funny how something that I thought was such a waste of time turned out to be very influential in my life. You just never know. I hope this helps you and wish you the best of luck.