The Adventures of Paisley
Blue
My extended silence was noticed by someone else, and I realized it would be good to write a little about what has been going on. Basically I have continued being ill, despite attempting to go to work Monday. After five hours I called it quits and went home early.
Yesterday at work was the two-year anniversary of my starting date. These things are celebrated where I work, which I think is pretty cool. It is a way of honoring the ones who stay on, because turnover is so very high. I think it is also an excellent motivational tool for the newbies.
Each month at the all-staff meeting, some of the time is used to present certificates and plaques for various things, as well as introduce the new folks and announce internal shifts and promotions. Every work anniversary is honored by a certificate, but at the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, etc. it is also framed.
One person has been there way longer than anyone else. She started working there at 18 years of age as a switchboard operator -- 40 years ago! Actually now it's like 42 years. For her 40th anniversary, the organization rented meeting space at another building and threw her a big party. They also instituted an award named after her to be given each year to an employee who exemplifies excellent customer service. To this day she operates the phone lines, and she is a fun, friendly person. She also happens to be my Avon lady.
Even though I have not spent a lot of time there in the last three weeks, I have really enjoyed working there. I still look forward to going to the office each morning. My work is fulfilling, challenging, interesting, and rewarding. I do realize just how rare that is, so I savor every day. On top of that, I learn so much there that I feel the possibilities are endless where it could lead. There are top notch people working there and we are one of the largest, if not THE largest, regional branch of this nationwide nonprofit organization. There are opportunities for advancement and the people are real nice.
It's wonderful to work at a place where money is not the bottom line. Our bottom line is helping people. Our mission statement and goals reflect a desire to improve the lives of the people in our community. It is an honor to work at a place that tries so hard to help.
At this moment, Michael, Mechanic and Brandon are sitting in the dark watching Red Dragon. It's a good movie although I generally do not prefer these scary ones. The guys think that watching these kinds of movies is good for me. They help desensitize me to scary things. They might be right.
I can be pretty jumpy sometimes. That is due, I am sure, to all the scary things I have survived. Sometimes scary things are events caused by humans. Sometimes scary things cannot be blamed on anything but the chaotic fates of life. The illness I am going through is something like that.
Daisy seems to be doing great. She has started working full-time, tells of times she gets out and socializes, and she's made plans for her future. I love talking with her online or on the phone. She has contacted me often, concerned for me and seeing how I'm doing. While I am in limbo here, it's great to hear how wonderful she is doing.
Michael has been great through all this. Mechanic has been supportive and encouraging. The daily activities of life go on, with the changes that accompany my constant presence. Brandon is a friend who has been hanging out with us. He helps Michael host a drag show the 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month. Brandon and Mechanic spend a lot of time together, and I like joking around with Brandon.
Opera has actually moved out, having found herself a position with an older lady who needs help around the house. She also seems to be dating her son, who lives in the basement. They go to church together where he is an Elder and she has just been offered the position of Music Director. So for her, life is going wonderfully, too.
Lancelot has returned from one trip and taken off for another. I hope he has fun on this trip. He wrote me a beautiful poem that I will always treasure. Its like a dream for a woman to receive such beautiful words. I told him that he uses words like a bard. It's true.
Well, that's all the news. More later.
~Paisley Blue
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