Logan's Run: How the Show's Theme Impacted My Life

Does anyone besides me remember that T.V. show, Logan's Run, from the late 70's? I was probably 13 or 14 years old when it aired, but looking back, the theme really impacted my thinking. Logan lived in a post nuclear society in the 23^rd century where people were not allowed to live past age 30. At age 26, he became a "runner" and made a break for freedom with his girlfriend. I remember feeling shocked at the fact that the individuals in that society allowed themselves to be so controlled by others. It sickened me that they allowed others to dictate everything to them, even when they must die! To this day, I've not been content to follow the mainstream in anything- my career, my associations, my views. I am not a radical by any means. In fact, I have come to realize that after 20 or so years, it's time to change my political party affiliation. I just don't see things the way I did when I was 20. But that's another discussion.

I did all the anticipated, correct things and followed the expected path as a high honors student in high school. I graduated, went on to get a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at Boston University, and later a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Rensselaer. I became a Reliability Engineer and worked at many different large companies over the years, including Hamilton Standard, a division of United Technologies and Lockheed Martin.

The highlight of my 14 year career as a Reliability Engineer was working on the U. S. Space Suit Program at Hamilton Standard. I can honestly say that during that six or so years, I was content living in the gilt cage of a "good job". Occasionally, I would notice how cozy and cushioned my life was compared to those looking in from the outside. Those that didn't have benefits, vacation pay, a salary that allowed a good life and extra perks-or those who got laid off and lost it all.

It was the look in a middle aged engineer's eyes after he had just been let go, that glance I caught as he picked up his box of personal belongings and walked towards the door, that haunted me in my 20's. I can still see that look now. Utter despair and disbelief. I vowed I would never be caught so defenseless. And I realized right then Corporate America was not a cradle. It was not going to take care of me the rest of my life. It was more like Big Brother; I and my fellow engineers were corporate slaves, of use to a point, and then commodities to be cast asunder.

Even though I loved working on the U. S. Space Suit Program, I realized that if I remained, I would be pigeon-holed and become easy fodder for any future rounds of corporate lay-offs. After all, I had just passed the ripe old age of 30. I was in direct line to be plucked from the vine. Reluctantly, I left Hamilton Standard in 1995 and took a job at Lockheed Martin in Pittsfield, MA, working as Reliability Engineer on defense programs. I say "a job", because after leaving the space suit program, I know longer considered engineering as my career.

At this point in my life, I began to think about Logan's Run a lot of the time. Every cubicle in every following job became more and more like a cage to me. Monday mornings, I would wake up with a stomach ache, absolutely dreading the daily drudgery to follow. I could not even console myself when times got tough and others were being laid off everywhere, not just in Corporate America. I could not be thankful I had a "good" job.

Finally, after being laid off in 2001 from a middle sized engineering company, I had had enough. I remember the day they laid me off feeling strangely relaxed. O.K., I will admit it- I was joyful! It was because that gave me the excuse-the key- to escape the cage I had forced myself to stay in for probably seven more years than I should have. As I carried my box of personal belongings out that day, I recalled Logan's Run. It simply came to me. I was another escapee. I had made it over the wall. There would be no going back. I knew the road ahead would be extremely hard-especially since I was use to a decent salary. It didn't matter. I knew that from that point forward, I would do what I had to, to be independent, to be self-employed, to be free.