["It's been awhile now, but I vividly remember being let go from my job where I'd worked (and sweated and bled) for 11 years.  They claimed it was due to downsizing."]
That's really hard!  I'm sure that was disappointing after putting in so many years.  Sorry.
Was let go from my job after 11 years.  Coincidentally it was almost immediately after I told them I was pregnant with my 2nd child.