May 15
Home alone every day, Gayl becomes exceedingly familiar with daytime TV, especially General Hospital. “You’re faced with a day full of nothing,” she says. When not watching soaps, Gayl continues to mail out her résumé and post it on job-search websites. She visits with a friend who’s home on maternity leave. She goes for bike rides, which, at least, are free. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would be out of work for so long.” Suddenly, she gets a glimmer of hope: The headhunter secures her a phone interview—her second interview in two months.