I will never get tired of saying those four words — I HAVE A JOB. I will never not be grateful to be able to say those four words. I will never take those four words for granted.

Why?

Because I will never forget what it was like when for nearly two years I was unable to say those four words.

Unable to get hired in the career I had spent over twenty years in. Unable to get hired at Macy’s. Unable to put gas in my car. Unable to pay my rent.

But I had this column and  I walked through that period of time with all of you — listening, sharing, relating.

The fear of being a single mom with no income was truly the most humbling time of my life. Selling jewelry to help pay for camp. Selling used clothing to pay for groceries. All the while having to show up for big meetings at the networks and studios, using make-up from my kid’s long forgotten Barbie collection, finding a way to not let them know that when I was done pitching I just might take a roll of toilet paper from the bathroom because we were out at home.

And then… things turned around.

Everything turned around.

I got hired to write for the number sit-com on television, during a time it would become one of the most watched premiere episodes in television history, working under one of the biggest television show creators of our time.

Can we say, WTF?!!!

In a day, a single day…

And I got to celebrate that turn of the tide with all of you. You wrote me saying I gave you hope. You emailed me telling me I helped remove the shame that comes with financial fear. You started your own blogs, columns and roads of expression and I was now following your story.

For the last two years I have been employed. I have gas in the car, food on the table, rent paid and toilet paper.

But I think about that time now and I honor it daily. Honor it by hiring a friend to help me decorate our home. Hiring a friend to help move furniture. Hiring the same friends who helped me when I was at the bottom.

I donate clothes, jewelry, food. Treat friends to meals. Slip a twenty in a pal’s wallet when I know they could use it. Invest in other struggling artist’s projects and dreams. Paying it forward, indeed.

But the greatest way I honor it? I’ve opened a savings account for my daughter. I feed it weekly and dance as I watch it grow.

After all, her piggy bank helped me when I needed it most… I’m happy to say her piggy bank is full and untouched.

So, as you read this column I will be back at work after a sweet hiatus. Back at my seat at the writer’s table. Back with people who inspire me. Back with a show I love to write for.

I have a job.