Hope for the best but expect the worst

My dad died in 2002, the day after Thanksgiving and like all dads, he had his moments both good and bad; while both are remembered, only the good ones stay with me.  I still remember his funeral and everyone coming over to the house afterwards to pay their respects to our mother for our loss.  My brother’s partner was there, engaged in a conversation with my cousin (who died a few years ago as well) and I and mentioned how upset he was that he had to catch a ride back to wherever because his plane was in the shop saying, “…as soon as you need it, your plane is always in the shop…” 

My cousin, then retired from AT & T replied, “I know what you mean,” with a serious, understanding, and knowing look on his face.  His wife, sitting beside him on the couch cracked a smile and I turned away about to burst out laughing along with my wife who had tears in her eyes.  I guess today, this story would be followed with:  ROGLMAO.

I thought of this situation because yesterday while reading the news on my Droid while my wife shopped for yet another pocketbook, I read about American Airlines, our third largest carrier, filing bankruptcy.  My first thoughts were anger at this country, then anger at the management of American Airlines for poor leadership, and empathy for all the workers and their families who were now without work, and finally I realized that someone or some entity with an investment strategy would buy American Airlines, maybe change the name, hire back the workers and maybe more, and keep on trucking.

And, if this did not happen, then the other airlines would hire the laid off workers because of all the extra passengers with which the other two airlines would have to deal.   And, if this did not happen, then some of the laid off workers would return to school (increasing their revenues) to learn a new vocation.  And, while some would make less than they did with AA, others would make more, creating a balancing effect.

I took my rose colored glasses off during the decade of the 90’s when I was unemployed more than employed and resurfaced a buried philosophy:  Hope for the best but expect the worst, leaves me never disappointed.