(no subject)
Today was a strange day.
Chase and I had a web design meeting with Gretchen this morning at 10:00am. Usually Chase and I arrive on time, but Gretchen is normally so busy that we end up waiting a few moments. This morning, however, Chase and I met Countess in the hall, who apparently was also attending the meeting. She said that Gretchen’s office was locked, and that no one was answering their phone extensions. Chase and I decided to go back to Tammy’s office and wait. A little while later Shantavia came by and asked if we’d heard what happened to Gretchen. Perplexed, we waited for Shantavia to offer an explanation. Gretchen wasn’t at work this morning because her husband had a heart attack and passed away. The smiles that Chase, Tammy, and I were wearing quickly disappeared, and a sense of shock and finality settled over the office. There were no words to be said but the obvious, and we quickly exchanged emotions, ranging from disbelief, to sadness, to rememberance. I like Gretchen very much and right now I hurt for her.
Despite the horrible news, or maybe because of it, Chase, Tammy, and I threw ourselves into the website design and made tons of progress. Our productivity awarded us a few hours of non-stop work and fun, allowing us to temporarily hide behind cheerful demeanors.
But there was more to come.
After lunch Rachel and I met with Tammy about the upcoming PHE training. Toward the end of the meeting I became extremely tired and non-talkative, as did Rachel. The air was strange, and we did not vibe well. Afterward, I left the office for a moment to regroup and use the restroom. When I came back, I discovered Rachel on the phone, in obvious distress. I won’t go into anymore detail, but she had a very serious family emergency, and the extreme distance between her and her family only added to the sense of urgency. Tammy and I stood watch, neither of us great with reacting to emotional distress, and did the best we could to comfort Rachel.
We didn’t accomplish much for the rest of the afternoon. The hardships of the day left us very much drained, yet all the more connected to one another.
So. I’ve decided that life is too short for me to try and please others. I will love the people that love me and that are good for me. I will not involve myself with those that are detrimental to my emotional health. I will only wish them the love that I have in my life, and hope that they will find happiness within themselves, rather than in hurting others.
I wish my family would come back.