I've got to hand it to my company. As I mentioned yesterday, this week is Employee Appreciation Week. Every day of the week, there is a different event, little social gatherings arranged and paid for by the company. Last night was a family barbeque at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline. What a gorgeous park it is, with expansive, well manicured turf--a far cry from any park I've seen since Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. My son and I threw the Frisbee without fear of losing it in the poison ivy infested woods that surround our little patch of heaven.
My wife finally got to put faces to the names of the people I've been telling her about for the better part of a year now. And the best part is, she got a good feeling about all of them. Another reason why I like New England better than California--the people here are more genuine. No offense to anyone from California, but I did live there for fifteen years, and consider myself a good judge of character. I lived in four corners of the bay area, and met a great many people--some I consider among the best I've ever known. But generally speaking, there was always an undercurrent of transience, an invisible wall, a tacit impermanence. Sure, yeah, let's do get together sometime.
I have to say that I'm falling into a groove here at work. This job was just a temporary stop on the train to Willoughby, but several things have happened that made me stay. The money was my only consideration at first, which trumped the contract wage I made before. That part was a no-brainer. Without it, I would still leave. The law of economics forces me in unsavory directions sometimes. Then a couple of the guys, as I've said before, turned out to be my kind--and that never happens, ever. There is practically no friction with anyone I work with, except for one, and that too is getting better. And now the large community feel, like I belong to something. And my wife likes the same people I do. Wow.
Today at three: ice cream social. Hot fudge sundae anyone?
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13 comments:
Sounds pretty good, but my idea of a dream job requires no work. I'll bet they expect you to work at yours, am I right? So they can have all the ice cream socials and barbecues they want, it doesn't quite hide that one fatal flaw.
":...a tacit impermanence.."
Think you've summed up the sojourner syndrome perfectly.
Ice cream social sounds pretty darn good to me.
I agree with you completely about San Francisco. I think long-timers are standoffish because they know people won't necessarily be there that long. It took forever for me to meet my own friends and find people to do things with and then I upped and moved back to Detroit on them - mostly because the city was just too bloody damned expensive.
Mr. Schprock - It's funny, I wrote you an email with a similar sentiment before I read this. Really, I'm not copying you. Perhaps great minds come to think alike.
Bernita - I liked that turn of phrase. I sat at the keyboard for a full thirty seconds trying to come up with just the right sentiment.
Kat - You said a mouthful there sister. We would love to live there again but for the cost of living. Oh, and that whole people thing.
Sometimes the place you're meant to be isn't always the place you were headed. I think any job that offered ice cream socials would sound pretty good to me.
Perhaps things are looking up in the couple-friends department?
The money is always nice, but things are much better when you get along with everyone and enjoy what you're doing.
I'd love a hot fudge sundae.
I'mn glad your wife approves of all your co-workers. It often takes an outsider to be the best judge of character as you are no longer impartial. Plus your wife seems to be particularly astute.
Ice cream socials sound great. But my co-worker would probably try to roll around in hot fudge. I'll eat my ice cream over here, thanks.
I'm so glad that everything is falling into place for you and your family. You deserve it. :)
yeah, okay.
Can I have some of the ground up chocolate stuff on the top.
And a napkin.
I don't want to get it all over my shirt.
Sounds like you've found your niche. I do appreaciate that permanent feeling that you just find missing so often these days...I was home in AL last weekend, which makes me notice it more in ATL...maybe you and the wife will make some of those couple friends you've been looking for....a sundae sound really good, hot fudge please. :)
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