we all have relationships with the people that we have the pleasure to work with… after a while, the origin of said relationships can sometimes get fuzzy and fade away from memory. i have one particular relationship at work whose beginning (and subsequent continued existence) is far from faded. allow me to tell you the story here.
in november, 2008, we lost quite a few coworkers to “workforce reduction”… it was a long, sad afternoon. most of us sat around waiting for the unpublished, secret list of 40+ people to make its way around the building.
by the time 5 o’clock rolled around, those left standing were exhausted and more than a little deflated. i took my sorrows to the neighborhood pub while wondering if the coworkers i’d never see inside the building again would be ok.
later, as i was on my way out, i ran into someone who works in the warehouse on a forklift, and also drives one of the company-owned trucks. he’d always had a smile on, but this time he looked concerned. it should be noted, at this point, that he has a rather remarkable way of styling his hair and dressing.
we confirmed that we were both still employed, and right before i left for the night, i reached my right hand out to offer a shake. instead, i got a kiss.
ever since then, whenever he sees me at work, i get a particular type of wave and a smile.
it’s kind of become a joke with me and another coworker… especially when we run into him in the warehouse on one of his lifts.
recently, while he was obviously the b.m.o.c. concentrating on t.c.b., he managed a wave without skipping a beat.
and, that’s the beginning and middle of my awkward work relationship.