A very special friend wanted to have lunch yesterday. I did, too. We have been friends since before I birthed children. She used to come to my exercise classes, then when I started my own business, became a teacher for me. We have shared some very important pieces of our lives, and i don't think I could ever do without her.
As it turned out, yesterday at work,we had a short term front desk helper who needed to leave before lunch, so I picked up some box lunches for the boss's meeting and got two for us (on our dime, of course. )I figured if she came to work and we sat in my office I could still catch the phone til the afternoon relief arrived to take over.
She was amenable to the plan and readily came over. While I was out picking up the lunches, my car decided to cough. (I had just spent 300 $ earlier in the week, but guess I missed getting the car flu shot, so I hopped it over to the mechanic's. I figured they had left something loose.
They had. So it was a quick fix. )
When I got back to work, my buddy had made friends with the front desk person, and had read through half of the morning paper. We carried the bags of boxed lunches to my office and the receptionist left.
There were 50 gargantuan tablecloths parked in the huggy chair, so she pulled the recliner across the room in front of my desk so we could share a common table.
We began to eat.
BAM!! The door opened, and someone flew in slamming the door against the recliner, sending the first full bite of lunch out of my friend's mouth and onto my lay leadership list. We laughed.
We cleaned up, I answered the visitor's question and they left.
We began again, chatting about our families, and such. A bite or two of fruit salad and WHAM! I'm wearing cantalope. ( It happens to be a good color for me)
The visitor went to the closet and found what was needed and left. I went outside and changed the note on my door from "at lunch" to "Maternity Leave". The traffic didn't stop-
Our conversation tried to continue, but after a while, my friend began to turn green and voiced that she was beginning to feel a little seasick from all of the waves crashing into her chair.
We packed up our lunches and pushed them aside.
I called upstairs to the youth duo and requested sodas from the machine to go. They were very kind in accomodating me and treated us to boot!! ( they are wayyy tooo good to me)
Soon we had Avon people coming in for some assistance an hour early. sighhhhhhhhh
My boss came in, banging in with the Pastoral Care that only HE can.... and he was delightful. He grabbed the bag for his meeting and backed out. He may have been hoping I was screening someone for him, but he was probably just glad to get away from what was clearly momtalk. He is intuitive that way, and such a smart man, as you know. At times like that, it always surprises me that he takes the iniative to do things like seek me out and get the bag rather than just calling me on the intercom or yelling across the office, "Where is our lunch?" Which is what I expect but rarely if ever get. No, he's very respectful of the Grand Central Office.
Over time, this office has redefined itself. I love that. A job that is growing and taking an office along with it.Sometimes my corner alley of the building is a haven for griefstricken people who just want to sit in the huggy chair and listen to me type along with the mystery radio show that plays on the radio.
Sometimes people need a sense of control in their out -of -control life and they pilfer through the nut mix to Choose their favorite legume or fruit. Choices are good salve when you run out of them in other places of your day.
Sometimes, people come in like hornets, and need to vent. This is when I open the window, to let those heated words escape. There is something healing about watching venom slam into a brick wall
Sometimes, people bring by treats just because they are thoughtful.
Other times they drop off items that have no where else to go- call me orphanage
Mostly, my place is a pitstop for a quick breath or a piece of gum and a kind word. And Iwouldn't have it any other way.
Yesterday, It was a rough ride on a wagon train for my friend,but I think she fared okay. I watched her walk to the car and she only stumbled a few times.
Although it was great to see my oldest and dearest friend, all I can really say is that her kids are growing up. The other details are scattered on the floor around my desk.
Showing posts with label chaos at work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chaos at work. Show all posts
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Some days are just like that
Over the last few weeks, I have collected notes of several little bits to share here, but it seems as if my time is being sucked through the walls of the church as I enter, and so, I find myself neglecting my blog. It makes me sad. Today, it is as nutz as ever in-house and I decided to just take a minute to babble anyway, so here I am.
I like this job. I like the variety. A co-worker was telling me in awe of watching some incredible show of trapeze artists who juggled chairs and plates and umbrellas and such.
She said, “How do they do all that?”
and I said, “They used to be a family of Church Secretaries”
I like this job because I get to see lots of people, moms, grandmoms, workmen, mail people, kids, birds, lots of different types of people, and I like it because every day is different. Even when the days are the same they are different. Sometimes the diversity overlaps and washes over me with a bit of a rip tide and when that happens, I find myself losing a little ground or grounding. I can tell this is happening when I hear my humor blurting out at obviously inappropriate moments. I am sad to say this very thing happened last week. Yes, it did indeed.
As a mom of four older daughters, I have learned to wear revolving hats. Each child has her own delightfully challenging personality and each requires a specific type of mom. I’m not always fitting into that puzzle, but I try. I think that counts, probably with a percentage off, but I think it counts anyway. So, this job appealed to me in part because I thought I could trade capes and caps in a hurry when needed. Sometimes the winds shift too fast and my hats blow away, leaving me to flounder for air.
Last week, the weather was cold and gray so my focus started out cloudy, foggy, unclear. When I came in, first thing, I was greeted by someone needing help. I had spent time with this person before and I quick-quick drew out my helping hat and helped. I had no sooner gotten ten steps closer to my office when a call came in for assistance as well. This person was really a pseudo-help case. A person who relies on the routine of calling me weekly to ask for assistance when they need it and when they don’t. I shifted my gears and had a caffeinated conversation and kept trying to make it to my desk.
One of my girls called in with school financial aid questions, and I managed that. Someone called in a person to add to the white board, a hospital entry. I started writing it and had passers by critique my choice of marker color and size, so I erased it a few times until the consensus was okay.
My Pastor-boss entered the building next. He starts his day at 78mph and then goes to Starbucks, before he gets to work, so you can imagine the level of activity he brings with him when he comes in. It’s a sight to see. He has more energy than a two year old on candy. And I love that about him. His creative mind is constantly at work. I can’t keep up. But it is fun trying. One exhausting day, I held up a white board in front of him and drew a circle.
“This is you in the am.” He stood watching, with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He focused. He held tight to his starbucks and sipped quietly while he watched.
Then I drew another smaller and less rounded circle.
“This is me.” He nodded.
I drew a spiral and said, “This is your brain on Starbucks.” Istarted slowly and sped up my spiraling until the board was covered with spinning lines.
My circle was hidden within his spirals.
“So, where’s “YOU” now?” He asked, still sipping on his vanilla skinny latte.
I capped the marker and said, “My point exactly.”
The activity was useless as it just sparked some new idea or task for me to add to our list. The man’s a genius with a heart.
So, back to the crazy day. It was obvious that this day was going to be disjointed. I decided to find humor in the constant interruptions that were keeping me from finding the “real” to do’s of the day that were sitting in wait at my desk. Before I ever turned the door handle of my office door, the receptionist called me to come over.
“This lady wants to know if we have anyone here who would like to take a walking tour of the cemetery.”
“Cemetary tour?” “ You’re kidding me, right?”
“No, she’s right there and here’s a map.”
A young woman stood in the lobby holding a clipboard with pictures of graves and a map. She looked like she had been to the beauty parlor sometime in the last decade and the product had adhered to her hair follicles. Maybe she was a statue from the graveyard come to life. I approached with caution.
“ Thanks, but not today.”
She was prepared for such a reply and took it with grace. She smiled and I saw the mausoleum white of her teeth sparkle.
“ Just let me know when” and then she was gone.
I noticed a group of 50 or so older and wiser people sitting in the Fellowship Hall and I stepped in to see who it was. It was my favorite weekly meeting group of Seniors and senior- wannabe’s. They were playing bingo. I went in and said my hellos, then turned to leave.
It occurred to me that they were concentrating very hard on the game. Something came over me and I yelled, “BINGO!” The reaction was not what I had expected. I assumed they realized that since I was not playing Bingo, I couldn’t call out Bingo, but instead the crisp calling out on my part made everyone want to know who HAD Bingo, so they started looking around trying to determine the winner. The leader pointed to the exit door like a grim reaper and said, “ You’re not even playing, go. Out with you.”
It made me laugh.
Bingo to sick people to artistic writing, to helping to being a mom, to graveyard tours. All in a short morning. See why I like this job?
Church Chick
I like this job. I like the variety. A co-worker was telling me in awe of watching some incredible show of trapeze artists who juggled chairs and plates and umbrellas and such.
She said, “How do they do all that?”
and I said, “They used to be a family of Church Secretaries”
I like this job because I get to see lots of people, moms, grandmoms, workmen, mail people, kids, birds, lots of different types of people, and I like it because every day is different. Even when the days are the same they are different. Sometimes the diversity overlaps and washes over me with a bit of a rip tide and when that happens, I find myself losing a little ground or grounding. I can tell this is happening when I hear my humor blurting out at obviously inappropriate moments. I am sad to say this very thing happened last week. Yes, it did indeed.
As a mom of four older daughters, I have learned to wear revolving hats. Each child has her own delightfully challenging personality and each requires a specific type of mom. I’m not always fitting into that puzzle, but I try. I think that counts, probably with a percentage off, but I think it counts anyway. So, this job appealed to me in part because I thought I could trade capes and caps in a hurry when needed. Sometimes the winds shift too fast and my hats blow away, leaving me to flounder for air.
Last week, the weather was cold and gray so my focus started out cloudy, foggy, unclear. When I came in, first thing, I was greeted by someone needing help. I had spent time with this person before and I quick-quick drew out my helping hat and helped. I had no sooner gotten ten steps closer to my office when a call came in for assistance as well. This person was really a pseudo-help case. A person who relies on the routine of calling me weekly to ask for assistance when they need it and when they don’t. I shifted my gears and had a caffeinated conversation and kept trying to make it to my desk.
One of my girls called in with school financial aid questions, and I managed that. Someone called in a person to add to the white board, a hospital entry. I started writing it and had passers by critique my choice of marker color and size, so I erased it a few times until the consensus was okay.
My Pastor-boss entered the building next. He starts his day at 78mph and then goes to Starbucks, before he gets to work, so you can imagine the level of activity he brings with him when he comes in. It’s a sight to see. He has more energy than a two year old on candy. And I love that about him. His creative mind is constantly at work. I can’t keep up. But it is fun trying. One exhausting day, I held up a white board in front of him and drew a circle.
“This is you in the am.” He stood watching, with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He focused. He held tight to his starbucks and sipped quietly while he watched.
Then I drew another smaller and less rounded circle.
“This is me.” He nodded.
I drew a spiral and said, “This is your brain on Starbucks.” Istarted slowly and sped up my spiraling until the board was covered with spinning lines.
My circle was hidden within his spirals.
“So, where’s “YOU” now?” He asked, still sipping on his vanilla skinny latte.
I capped the marker and said, “My point exactly.”
The activity was useless as it just sparked some new idea or task for me to add to our list. The man’s a genius with a heart.
So, back to the crazy day. It was obvious that this day was going to be disjointed. I decided to find humor in the constant interruptions that were keeping me from finding the “real” to do’s of the day that were sitting in wait at my desk. Before I ever turned the door handle of my office door, the receptionist called me to come over.
“This lady wants to know if we have anyone here who would like to take a walking tour of the cemetery.”
“Cemetary tour?” “ You’re kidding me, right?”
“No, she’s right there and here’s a map.”
A young woman stood in the lobby holding a clipboard with pictures of graves and a map. She looked like she had been to the beauty parlor sometime in the last decade and the product had adhered to her hair follicles. Maybe she was a statue from the graveyard come to life. I approached with caution.
“ Thanks, but not today.”
She was prepared for such a reply and took it with grace. She smiled and I saw the mausoleum white of her teeth sparkle.
“ Just let me know when” and then she was gone.
I noticed a group of 50 or so older and wiser people sitting in the Fellowship Hall and I stepped in to see who it was. It was my favorite weekly meeting group of Seniors and senior- wannabe’s. They were playing bingo. I went in and said my hellos, then turned to leave.
It occurred to me that they were concentrating very hard on the game. Something came over me and I yelled, “BINGO!” The reaction was not what I had expected. I assumed they realized that since I was not playing Bingo, I couldn’t call out Bingo, but instead the crisp calling out on my part made everyone want to know who HAD Bingo, so they started looking around trying to determine the winner. The leader pointed to the exit door like a grim reaper and said, “ You’re not even playing, go. Out with you.”
It made me laugh.
Bingo to sick people to artistic writing, to helping to being a mom, to graveyard tours. All in a short morning. See why I like this job?
Church Chick
Thursday, November 17, 2005
When your "K's" are off
It’s been a little frazzled here the last few weeks. The change in season creates a little off balance in everyone for a variety of reasons. It is a true test of team spirit when those out of sync moments hit everyone at once. I’ve been setting my heating pad that stays in my desk chair on medium instead of high lately. That’s a sure sign of trouble brewing.
This week, I overheard a panic response coming from the copy room. My immediate reaction was, “ What wild animal has been killed NOW?” I wondered if the Riso machine was up to no good, or if the paper cutter had been recently sharpened by a phantom sharpener and no one knew about it. The sound continued, and then the sound of paper flipping kicked in. flip/ plop. Flip/plop. Was someone skimming the empty reams and dropping them to the linoleum? Was there a treasure hidden in there? My curiosity finally go the best of me and I went to investigate the mystery angst coming from the copy room.
Our membership secretary, or someone who looked sort of like her stood in front of the copy machine, her hands gripped the sides of the testy Toshiba. There were piles of papers askew across the floor. More papers flooded from the copy machine at a very fast pace. As the paper catcher became overloaded, they plopped to the floor. Flip/plop. Flip/plop. Amelia began pressing the copy machine buttons, but as we already know, the copy machine is willful and loves to play mischievous games with human copy folk like us. Many times, I have copied 222 copies of something because the Toshiba is having a cranky day. This seemed the case on this particular day.
“Hey- what’s going on?” I asked my distraught friend.
“ My K’s are off.” She looked at me and repeated, “ My K’s are off”.
Now you might wonder, What does one SAY to that? I mean, it was obviously an important statement. It carried special meaning, but I had no idea what that meaning was.
“ Your K’s are off? Gosh, I’m so sorry. So sorry to hear that. Anything I can do? How are your J’s looking? Do you anticipate needing any L’s or N’s maybe?”
The glazed look cleared and she straightened and lifted a huge chunk of copied papers. “ I was copying the directory, and I had organized it so that each letter had its own start page. Isn’t that neat? You could go right to the B’s or the D’s . It took me a while to figure it out, so that the sections would come out just right. And then.. well, I just discovered that my “K’s” are off. That means the whole rest of the alphabet is off, too.
The picture came clear to me in that moment. Amelia had said so much more in that statement than she ever thought. There have been many days when my K’s have been off. I’m sure most of you can identify with that.
It sounds much more friendly to say that than to hear, “ Ye Gods what a suck day!” Or “AGGGGHHHH, or “I give up!!!”
So the next time the day offers a collection of disruptive moments, consider that statement. And if you get through the day pretty smoothly, you can say like Amelia says, “ It’s a good day when your ‘Z’s’ are off.”
This week, I overheard a panic response coming from the copy room. My immediate reaction was, “ What wild animal has been killed NOW?” I wondered if the Riso machine was up to no good, or if the paper cutter had been recently sharpened by a phantom sharpener and no one knew about it. The sound continued, and then the sound of paper flipping kicked in. flip/ plop. Flip/plop. Was someone skimming the empty reams and dropping them to the linoleum? Was there a treasure hidden in there? My curiosity finally go the best of me and I went to investigate the mystery angst coming from the copy room.
Our membership secretary, or someone who looked sort of like her stood in front of the copy machine, her hands gripped the sides of the testy Toshiba. There were piles of papers askew across the floor. More papers flooded from the copy machine at a very fast pace. As the paper catcher became overloaded, they plopped to the floor. Flip/plop. Flip/plop. Amelia began pressing the copy machine buttons, but as we already know, the copy machine is willful and loves to play mischievous games with human copy folk like us. Many times, I have copied 222 copies of something because the Toshiba is having a cranky day. This seemed the case on this particular day.
“Hey- what’s going on?” I asked my distraught friend.
“ My K’s are off.” She looked at me and repeated, “ My K’s are off”.
Now you might wonder, What does one SAY to that? I mean, it was obviously an important statement. It carried special meaning, but I had no idea what that meaning was.
“ Your K’s are off? Gosh, I’m so sorry. So sorry to hear that. Anything I can do? How are your J’s looking? Do you anticipate needing any L’s or N’s maybe?”
The glazed look cleared and she straightened and lifted a huge chunk of copied papers. “ I was copying the directory, and I had organized it so that each letter had its own start page. Isn’t that neat? You could go right to the B’s or the D’s . It took me a while to figure it out, so that the sections would come out just right. And then.. well, I just discovered that my “K’s” are off. That means the whole rest of the alphabet is off, too.
The picture came clear to me in that moment. Amelia had said so much more in that statement than she ever thought. There have been many days when my K’s have been off. I’m sure most of you can identify with that.
It sounds much more friendly to say that than to hear, “ Ye Gods what a suck day!” Or “AGGGGHHHH, or “I give up!!!”
So the next time the day offers a collection of disruptive moments, consider that statement. And if you get through the day pretty smoothly, you can say like Amelia says, “ It’s a good day when your ‘Z’s’ are off.”
Friday, October 14, 2005
Helpful hint from the trenches
I have discovered a way to get more of the congregation involved. This is a problem that touches many churches across the Globe. We want to empower our "lay" people but I find some challenges in that. First of all, I wonder to myself. ......."Lay person?" Do I really want to be one of those? It implies someone who doesn't stand up for their beliefs, someone who can be railroaded, a wimp, weakling, a walrus laying in a slug-yoga posezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
So that is the first problem that I see. Secondly I can say that here, at least it is often a puzzle figuring how to attract people to committee positions. I see reactions such as, "How many teeth must I pull? What do I have to do?" and "How long is my sentence? How long do I have to serve?" The church staff seeks to empower the "lay" people, we want them to see the bright side of being a working part of the big old Church machine. It's fun! or it can be,or it might be, well, maybe, you never know til you try, right? Through time, Churches have tried many methods of inviting lay people to come into the fold. Committee Titles that sound appealing and uplifting have been tried... Administrative Board ( This sounds like you, too can be in charge) and lay leadership ( lead others like yourself to lay- the low energy committee), Church and Family Life ( a picnic for sure) Trustees ( Trust me on this, okay?) and many many others. Fellowship Committee is similar to the Good ship Lollipop, perhaps. Hospitality is bound to be full of kind and hospitable folks... you get my thinking here, right?
If titles fail, sometimes food helps. "Oh, yeah, I'll sign up. That's the one that always serves brownies." or "That's the vegan task force" and " I've heard they offer comfort food and have retreats" Retreats is another story altogether for another day.....
Location location location.... " This committee meets on the first floor right next to the exit" This committee meets in the sanctuary of the Columbarium, where quiet and good ideas meet" etc..
Bottom line is that until today, there hasn't really been a successful way to get people to sign up.
Until today, I said. Until today.
This week has been incredibly popcorned with to dos. I started wearing my life jacket mid week and usually I don't have to do that til Thursday afternoons. So you can imagine how I was feeling, over done and a little swimmy. I got a call from a very chipper parishoner, Mary Lee. "Melanie! Hey! I just got my reminder card for the upcoming Worship Committee!!"
I was thrilled. This was just the news I needed. Some small indication that I had in deed been able to do my job in a timely fashion. She didn't say I got my reminder card for the meeting that happened last week, oh. no.It was a reminder in just the way a reminder should be. on time.
whew.
I replied with relieved excitement. " Yippee!! whew. I'm so glad."
Janie paused. "Um, Melanie. the thing is, that I'm on Board of Trustees."
oh. oh no. uh oh.
I sent out a new set of reminders to the right people, but later realized that this could be a good thing. I mean think about it. Trustees coming to Worship, Worship going to Staff Parish, Staff Parish attending Finance... We could all learn about each other and maybe join other people's groups. Hey. It COULD work. Well, it might. oh shut up.
You may wonder what I did about my mix up? Well, of course I did what any other self respecting Church chick would do. I UN invited Board of Trustees . Simple. You are cordially UN-invited to attend the Worship Committee meeting. What else could I do?
oh. Good grief. So much to learn. and my evaluation is coming up. oh. good grief.
So that is the first problem that I see. Secondly I can say that here, at least it is often a puzzle figuring how to attract people to committee positions. I see reactions such as, "How many teeth must I pull? What do I have to do?" and "How long is my sentence? How long do I have to serve?" The church staff seeks to empower the "lay" people, we want them to see the bright side of being a working part of the big old Church machine. It's fun! or it can be,or it might be, well, maybe, you never know til you try, right? Through time, Churches have tried many methods of inviting lay people to come into the fold. Committee Titles that sound appealing and uplifting have been tried... Administrative Board ( This sounds like you, too can be in charge) and lay leadership ( lead others like yourself to lay- the low energy committee), Church and Family Life ( a picnic for sure) Trustees ( Trust me on this, okay?) and many many others. Fellowship Committee is similar to the Good ship Lollipop, perhaps. Hospitality is bound to be full of kind and hospitable folks... you get my thinking here, right?
If titles fail, sometimes food helps. "Oh, yeah, I'll sign up. That's the one that always serves brownies." or "That's the vegan task force" and " I've heard they offer comfort food and have retreats" Retreats is another story altogether for another day.....
Location location location.... " This committee meets on the first floor right next to the exit" This committee meets in the sanctuary of the Columbarium, where quiet and good ideas meet" etc..
Bottom line is that until today, there hasn't really been a successful way to get people to sign up.
Until today, I said. Until today.
This week has been incredibly popcorned with to dos. I started wearing my life jacket mid week and usually I don't have to do that til Thursday afternoons. So you can imagine how I was feeling, over done and a little swimmy. I got a call from a very chipper parishoner, Mary Lee. "Melanie! Hey! I just got my reminder card for the upcoming Worship Committee!!"
I was thrilled. This was just the news I needed. Some small indication that I had in deed been able to do my job in a timely fashion. She didn't say I got my reminder card for the meeting that happened last week, oh. no.It was a reminder in just the way a reminder should be. on time.
whew.
I replied with relieved excitement. " Yippee!! whew. I'm so glad."
Janie paused. "Um, Melanie. the thing is, that I'm on Board of Trustees."
oh. oh no. uh oh.
I sent out a new set of reminders to the right people, but later realized that this could be a good thing. I mean think about it. Trustees coming to Worship, Worship going to Staff Parish, Staff Parish attending Finance... We could all learn about each other and maybe join other people's groups. Hey. It COULD work. Well, it might. oh shut up.
You may wonder what I did about my mix up? Well, of course I did what any other self respecting Church chick would do. I UN invited Board of Trustees . Simple. You are cordially UN-invited to attend the Worship Committee meeting. What else could I do?
oh. Good grief. So much to learn. and my evaluation is coming up. oh. good grief.
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