In Spring 2000 Maria called me and said she had found the perfect job for me. Richard had died bankrupt in 1996 and I had to sell my house, store my furniture and was living first with Linda and then with James. I worked as a Temp Loan Processor for awhile and then became the office manager for a business that James and Kent had gotten into and miracle of miracles when Maria called in 1998 and said she had found the perfect place for me to live, it had actually all worked out and in March 1999 I moved to Lake Almanor, Ca 30 miles from where Maria and her family were living in Susanville.

The problem was I did not have enough income. When I left San Diego I supposedly had a job doing online work for James' business but that didn't last very long. I had a lifetime teaching degree, a real estate license, a securities license but no real income besides my social security and that was about $1000 short of what I needed every month to make it. I had landed a job finally with a title company by walking around Chester and handing out flyers and then interviewing. I had the experience needed but it was full time and not that much pay. That was in late spring 2000.

The job Maria had found on line was something new the SBA was trying. They were looking for retired, experienced loan professionals who could leave within 48 hours of being called and be on assignment anywhere needed for three to six months at a time.. The position I applied for was called a Disaster Reserve Specialist and the salary range was ($26,470-$39,178) depending on experience. The positions were temporary with an intermittent work schedule and so no benefits.

SBA provides low interest, direct loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses in declared disasters. I was a perfect candidate and got the job. However, it was not until September of 2000 that I was called to Fort Worth, Texas for training. Then it would not be another year before I was called on a disaster and actually make money. I did tell the Title Officer I was currently working for that if I was called I would need to go. Besides the salary, there was overtime, per diem, hotel and plane points and of course, all transportation and lodging was paid for. It turned out to be a perfect job even though I was now almost 69 and about 20 years older than most of them I was working with. Luckily I did not look my age most of the time. But when we introduced ourselves at the training I was the only one with a lot of grandchildren.

I was hired as GS 9...those who were the technicians who worked for us were hired as a GS 5/6/7. Before I had worked two disasters I was able to get raised to a GS 11, the highest you could be in this particular work.

9/11 and the Call Came...Airports were not prepared for us...bags were checked by hand!

...................................................

At the beginning of a disaster we would often be working 7 days/12-16 hours and then toward the end you have down time when you can check out some of the interesting places in the area.

........................................................