Captainkirk's Duster project

I had a couple leads; nothing too promising, but I was making phone calls and actually talking to people. Most wanted to know why I was looking for a job when they knew me as a business owner; I just told them the truth. I got understanding and a little sympathy, but that's about all.
Until Kenny called me.
He told me he had been offered another job, more money, better hours. He was reluctant to take it though, having been in his present position for 7 years (since he left working for me to get a sweet corporate gig). He said he was going to see if his company would match the new offer, and get back to me. I asked him if they did, to forward me the info on the other job. He promised he would.
A week went by and he called me again. The company had rejected his offer. He had accepted the new position and tendered his resignation in two weeks.
I asked if he minded if I contacted his chief pilot/supervisor, he said "No problem". I just happened to have his email address because three years earlier, I had bought my Dodge Dakota from him after Kenny had tipped me to it. Super-nice guy to deal with on that transaction! At least I wasn't flying blind...
I contacted him and asked if I might send him a resume; he said "Sure", so off it went (I had recently updated it so I was ready in that regard!) He told me he had received it, but there would be no decisions for a couple weeks.
I kept in pretty close contact, emailing him every couple days to check. I guess word travels quickly through the grapevine though, and others had been applying. I had no idea of the other applicants or their qualifications; I could only hope I was still in the running as we continued to play Russian Roulette with the paychecks. Finally, he called me in for an interview, and then a week later for a follow-up with the second pilot. After that, all I could do was wait....
As we moved into March, and one of my favorite holidays, St. Patrick's Day, I couldn't help but remembering last St. Pat's, when the salary cuts had kicked in, and how much of a miserable, worrisome struggle it had been since then. We celebrated despite being broke with the usual corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and soda bread washed down with a cold Guinness and the thought crossed my mind that next St. Pat's would either be one of the best I ever had or possibly the worst...hell; I could be homeless by then, my house might be in foreclosure. I couldn't go on borrowing. What would happen to The Duke, up on jack stands with no suspension or motor, if I lost my home? What would happen to my family? I'm pretty sure I had more than one Guinness that night.
I had been promised an answer by the end of March, but the suspense was killing me. I got another lead on a different job and called the guy, he seemed interested so I sent him a resume as well. We talked a bit and set up an interview for a Thursday morning.
Wednesday night I had gone to the gym after dinner, come home and was working on some stuff on the computer. I had planned on taking the morning off for my interview, and checked my cell phone for the time. There was a text waiting from the chief pilot I had bought my Dakota from; "Call me when you get a minute" Naturally, I called him that very second.
Me: "Hi, you wanted me to call?"
Him: "Yes. You win."
Me: "I win?"
Him: "Yes. You got the job".
Now, I wish I could tell you the details of the rest of the conversation, but I really don't remember them. I was numb. And over the moon, half-crazy delirious with relief and joy. How soon could I start, he asked, and I told him I'd have to have a week at least to wrap up things at work. The salary was double what our starvation wages had been cut back to, and the company offered full medical benefits including dental and vision! I woke my wife up out of a dead sleep and we high-fived, hugged and she cried some, and you better believe we said our prayers THAT night!
Now, all I had to do is tell my other partners I was leaving them holding the bag......