Back to Reality

I did not fall asleep until 3 am this morning and woke up at 7. I was going to be late to work and I was. I was there by 9, started going through e-mails, voice mails and was in the process of returning a phone call when my boss appeared at my door. She was smilling and she sat down. As I got off the phone she asked how my vacation was and I proceeded to tell her and we talked about it. She then started a serious tone about having some news to tell me and that there was no easy way to say it. I was like yikes I am getting laid off. Then I heard the words that my co-worker Denise had passed away on Thursday night. I had a second of relief that I was not being laid off but I also thought are you kidding me, please say it isn't true. One thing I fear when I go on vacation is that what if I leave my desk at work a mess and people can't figure out where I was on my projects. Then I think what about my room and is it a mess and how I don't want my family to have to deal with that. I met Denise almost 4 years ago this coming March. We acquired the company she worked at shortly after I arrived at my current employer. She was the friendliest, sweetest, energetic person you can imagine. She always made sure her nails looked good as well as her clothes. She has a daughter which she had a close relationship with. She met her husband by going on walks around our offices and they dated and married. This year Denise did an amazing job as we did layoffs at her facility all the while her mom was in the hospital. I reminded her how she was intimidated by being switched into such a new role of HR and Safety with our company; and always would call me and say you have to teach me. Well I only taught her a little; she learned on her own and shone like a star.She was a true HR Professional. Earlier this year she gave me a Tim Salmon card. She knew I loved Angels baseball and she often wanted to know what was going on with my life. She worried that I was single but also encouraged me in saying that she found her husband while going on walks at work later in life and I could too. I will miss Denise but will always be glad for the example she was to me. I am glad I had a chance to meet her and call her my friend. Every morning I try to listen to the Sports Lodge on 830 AM radio around 7:30 am they play Tori Hunter's comments from the Angels Press Conference after Nick Adenhart's death. I like to hear it because it reminds me and he even says "life is fragile". "I hate that this happened but this is part of life. This is the real deal. That's why you've got to to kiss your kids, kiss your family, everyday when you get up in the morning and when you leave for work". So my blog readers...slow down look around and appreciate all that you have and don't worry about what you do not have. Let those around you know that they are important to you.