saturn

i was reading an article about GM cutting out different brands in order for GM to survive.

one of the brands they are considering cutting is the Saturn brand. we all know, times are tough, it isn't a surprise that Saturn came up on the cutting block.

i read the article and i got really sad.

most of you know that my family moved to tennessee when i was in second grade. my dad worked for GM for several years and he had the opportunity to work with a brand that was completely new, Saturn.

as a second grader, i wasn't completely sure what all of that entailed, but i was excited.

we packed our bags and moved from rochester hills, michigan, to franklin, tennessee.

saturn. a whole new car, with a whole new message. i anticipated seeing the new cars on the road. and as soon as i saw saturns, i began to count them. i remember my dad saying that i was probably counting the same one. it didn't matter. i was just so excited to see this new car.

i really believed in saturn. saturn provided my dad and several of his friends good, steady jobs in a good work environment. i loved visiting the plant with my dad and i loved the cafeteria. it just seemed cool.

when my dad retired from saturn, i think it was bittersweet. he was able to start a new job, but he was leaving something that was really important to him. i think he was there from the beginning. my parents moved to kentucky and my dad works with a different company.

but saturn is still with us. my mom reflected on turning her Saturn in before she received a different car. we know the people who had their hands in different parts of the process of making that car. it was a part of our lives for so many years.

so when i read that article today about GM considering letting Saturn go, i was sad. the economy has been sad for a lot of us. we know people who have lost their jobs, we know people who are searching for jobs...who are struggling to pay bills.

at the same time i was hopeful. Saturn is trying to see what creative things they can do to survive. i mean, that's what happens. when we are pushed against a wall...we have to figure out ways how to work together, come together and learn.

anyway just some thoughts.