Mike Wride...1958 - 2020

Aw, crap.

You never know by just logging on to social media you'll find news that a person you know, a friend, is gone. Even though he passed away earlier that day, for me, he was with us until I saw his sister's post. Then, no. Gone.

I met Mike Wride--it had to be almost twenty years ago--at work. He and I sat next to each other, when we worked in "luxury" cubicles at the time. We had the same job, worked on the same team. He was older, taller, wiser than me. He was funny--oh, Mike made me laugh, even though I doubt that was his purpose. He'd also been pretty beat up, at that point. He had been through a lot. He reminded me--and I mean this in the best possible way--of Eeyore, a kind man with a good heart, a humble man who smiled if he knew you were doing well.

Mike and I had similar experiences at work, both were promoted, both left the team at different times for similar reasons. I moved out of the building--he stayed, but any time I returned to the building for a meeting or a job interview, I always sought him out, to chat, to catch up.

When Mike retired, he was living a few miles down the road from me. He also worked at a place we shopped. Either he would spot me or I him when I did some shopping. Mike hadn't changed, always asked how I was doing, how the family was doing, and when he asked, I always knew he wanted to know. He genuinely cared about me and my family, no matter how he was doing or what has happening in his life.

A post from his family on social media indicated he had a health issue for the past six months. I believe I had interacted with him since then--he never mentioned anything--always more concerned about how others were doing.

Once, when he and I sat next to each other, I asked him how his previous evening had gone. He said he visited his sister's gravesite and brought with him a sandwich from a fast food establishment. He said it was her birthday and to celebrate/honor her memory, he bought her the sandwich and left it on the headstone. He said it was her favorite. That memory has stayed with me all this time. It showed me the love he had for her, the selfless act for someone he missed.

I'm sad to say I don't know what Mike's favorite sandwich was--he wasn't one to talk about himself like that very often. But I do know he was a great friend to me and so many others and I'll miss him and that warm, humble, and a little beat-up smile. Goodnight, Mike. And thank you, for everything.

Staff Meeting Day...

Today was our team's staff meeting at work. 

And all that that entails.

I don't know about you, but there are times when I wonder why we have so many meetings. And I'm an entry-level worker! I used to be in management--so many meetings. My boss seems to always be in a meeting. Imagine how many meetings his boss has, or his boss's boss. It's mind-boggling.

Today's meeting was slated for two hours. We went a little long this morning, but I feel it was warranted. More than half of our team has been with us less than a year. That's unusual. Most of the time, team members--or a majority of them at least--tend to stay with the same team for several years. We usually lose team members to retirement. There's been so much turnover in our team that when a co-worker and I walked into the staff room and looked around, we apologized for entering the wrong room. Turns out, we were in the right place after all.

The workers were so new, we have never before met them in person.

We chatted about policy, ways to improve, grievances...you know, your basic work stuff. We try and meet at least once a month, or have a meeting via phones. We've got workers from one end of the state to the other--another new development.

I know meetings are important, and I know, many times including while in a meeting, you wonder why we have so many. I'm sure there's been thousands of meetings with the topic being: How do we reduce the number of meetings we have?

We'll get back to you on that.

So...I Didn't Get The Job

Last week I wrote a blog post explaining how I felt learning that a friend had passed away. In that post, I stated I had applied for a job--that's how I found out about my friend. The job was within the same company where I currently work--at no time was I without a job. So as to not leave anyone hanging, I did not get it.

Bummer.

I have applied for this particular job several times going back twenty years. When I first applied, interview, and was denied, boy...it hurt. I watched as others with less experience were hired and I was not. A million things go through your mind when that happens, at least, they do for me.

This time was different, though. Many times before I felt I had the job. I felt I did well enough in the interviews and I definitely had the experience. I also knew what they were looking for and, at least in my mind, I had everything they needed. This time around, I wasn't sure what they needed, even though I have years of experience--more than enough to cover whatever they're looking for.

Alas, it was not meant to be.

Now I take rejection better than I used to. I'm more mature than I once was and that helps me accept these things. When I found out who got the job, it made sense. The person had actually done the job for years before being re-assigned. I know how that feels--it's not fun. I was happy for the worker and even sent a congratulatory text--several, in fact--when I returned to work after hearing of the decision.

One thing I've tried to teach my children is that they have the choice when it comes to how they feel. I was bummed the day I heard the news, but the next morning, I felt a lot better. I knew I had done my best and a more qualified applicant got the job. I want my kids to know that they have the ability to decide how they're going to react to the good and bad things that will happen to them in this life. Life was never supposed to be easy, contrary to what politicians tell you. It's supposed to be hard at times. It's supposed to suck at times, and it's supposed to be wonderful at times. How we choose to view these events makes all the difference. 

No, I didn't get the job, but I'm okay with it. Sure, it would have been nice--I already knew where the raise in pay would be going. But since it's not meant to be, at least, this time around, I might as well look at all the good things.

Because there's so many of them out there.

A Meal...I Waited 20 Years For

Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I remember a line from a show (or maybe it was a joke from a comedian...). I can't remember who said it or what exactly was said, but it went something like this. A person was talking about a charity event where dinner cost $10,000 a plate. He/she said at that price, the food had to taste spectacular, the best food he/she had ever eaten.

I thought about that quote/joke yesterday when I attended an awards banquet put on by my employer. Those invited included winners who best represented the attributes of the company's four cornerstones, and for those employees who have worked for the company for 20, 25, 30, 35, and even 40 years.

I was part of the biggest group, the two decade-ers.

It was the largest group.

Back when I first began, everyone was invited to this luncheon (they fed us more back then...). There was a worker in my team being recognized for his 30 years of service (not really "service," but you know what I mean...). He began working the year after I was born. That blew my mind. This time, even the one guy who had put in 40 years--double my time--began ten years after I was born. This time, my mind was not blown.

It's becoming more and more rare to find workers who have stayed with the same employer their entire careers, and if trends continue, there will be fewer and fewer people working for the same company in ten years.

I waited twenty years for that meal, and it tasted really good. Did it taste 20-year good? I'm not sure since it was my first awards banquet meal. I'll let you know in five years, so I'll have something to compare it with. ;) Thanks Jon and everyone for the invite. See you next time.