"Goodbye Was Long Ago"

A few days ago I ran into someone I used to work with in one of my early jobs. The first question out of my mind was, "How's Ann doing?" There was a moment of hesitation and then this person answered, "Ann died two weeks ago. She had a stroke."

As I digested this fact I thought back to when I first met Ann. I had been working in one office and had had to deal with her on some projects that were occurring in hers. We had an immediate rapport and worked together easily. After a few weeks she asked if I would like to come to work for her. As strange as it seems now, I hesitated because I had never had a female boss in my entire work career. 

I actually hadn't been in the work force that long so my experience with employers was not vast. Still all the supervisors I had had up to that time had been other males. I thought about it and then decided what the heck. I liked her. She seemed to like me, so why not. I requested a transfer and Ann became my boss - and my mentor.

We did have a great working relationship. She was the type of boss who encouraged her employees to be their best, and because she was good and fair you worked extra hard for her. At least that was the way it worked for me. Plus we became good friends. She met my wife and I got to know her daughter. Ann was a widow so her daughter and her family were everything to her.

During our lunch hour Ann was always looking for a group to play bridge. I quickly became a part of that group. We played bridge and laughed and talked and had a wonderful time. It was one of the best work situations I ever had. It just didn't last long enough. After a couple of years Ann decided I needed to expand my knowledge of the workplace and had me enroll in a program that would give me more experience.

After a year in another area I got a job in California and moved my family out there. We stayed for two years, and during that time Ann and I lost touch. After I returned to Georgia I meant to look her up but didn't, and by the time I did she had retired. I asked a mutual friend why he didn't let me know about Ann's retirement dinner. He said that Ann had made out the guest list and only included her closest friends.

Those words really stung me as I had thought Ann and I were very close. I had considered her one of my best friends even though we hadn't seen each other in a while. But I guess she hadn't felt the same way.

I ran into Ann one day in the post office and we spoke and chatted about life when we worked together. She acted like we were still good friends but I couldn't get out of my mind that she hadn't included me in that dinner list. Maybe that was petty on my part but my feelings had been hurt. We parted with those words about how we would have to get together, but I knew we wouldn't. I said goodbye to her and that was it.

That was seven years ago, and now that goodbye is finally final. There will be no chance to clear up the hard feelings I had about being excluded from her retirement dinner. There will be no chance to rekindle the friendship we once had. Life goes by at a rapid pace. If we need to make contact with someone to clear up a misunderstanding we need to do it now - today!

I grieve for the loss of Ann today, but I said goodbye to her a long time ago.

 

 

 

 

 

©2006 Jackie K. Cooper

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