"First I prepare. Then I have faith."

So said the noted philosopher, Medicare Coverage spokesman and football legend, Joe Namath. When Joe Willie is right, he's right.

With the news that came down last week, I know I'm losing this job. Maybe this month. Maybe next. But I don't see how my agency can keep me if my client is eliminating the lines I work on.

So I'm preparing.

Monday I bought a gold Macbook Air. My personal computer -- a MacBook -- is from approximately (gulp) 2002. I can use it for email, paying bills and occasional writing, but I couldn't count on it to be my workstation if I'm a freelancer. I don't know that I want to be continue in writing, but I want to keep my options open.

I made my purchase at a local Apple authorized shop, so they will be my tech guys if I go out on my own. They're far easier to communicate with than the staff at The Apple Store, which have woeful interpersonal skills. (I ended up with gold because this shop gave me a $100 discount. Their reasoning: it saved them having to order a silver or gray one, and I was wearing a Cub jacket. Tell me The Apple Store would give me such a break!)

I also stopped at the public library to see what printing capabilities I'd have. I really don't want to buy a printer, and it looks like I won't have to.

I won't have to interrupt the therapy I just began. At least not for insurance reasons. My bout with bronchitis satisfied my deductible for the year. It makes sense for me to continue with COBRA, which means my treatment will go on seamlessly. HOWEVER I need to call For Eyes and find out whether I can get new contacts or (even better) new glasses while I still have vision coverage. I'm not sure that's included in COBRA.

I tweaked and touched up my website. I don't loooove it, but it's adequate. And it's ready. Two former coworkers, both of whom are out on their own, tell me that, while prospective clients like that writers have websites, it's really LinkedIn and references that have helped them get jobs. If that's the case -- and since I'm not 100% sold on continuing in the biz anyway -- I don't want to pay anyone to do my site for me. This is good enough. And when the axe falls, it's ready to go live.

As unsettled as life appears right now, the prospect of losing my job is not completely unattractive. Just being an American is draining these days: Trump is still President, the economy is volatile, there's a virus out there that's a threat to people like me (over 60, newly recovered from bronchitis). Maybe shedding the added stress of a deadline driven job wouldn't be a bad thing right now.

So when I get scared and nervous, I invoke Broadway Joe. I have to have faith that I'm ready for what comes my way. I don't know what my next chapter will be, but I'm keeping my options open.