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waxing poetic

September 2nd, 2005 @ 5:36 pm | Comments
Filed Under: life

Today I took the afternoon off from work. I had a doctor’s appointment and had to leave at lunch time, since we can only take sick time in 4hr increments.

So I headed back to my old job to have lunch with my old coworkers. That is the one thing I miss most from my job there- the people. We were/are an interesting group, dysfunctional when you really look at it, but very close and always have a good time when we’re together. The janitor, Mark, hung out with us too at lunch- he is a really sweet guy, a bit quirky and goofy, but very nice and has a great heart. He was so excited that I was coming to visit today- they all were telling me that he doesn’t stop talking about how much he misses me… which I think is kind of weird and cute.. I told him today that I’m really not that great, he shouldn’t miss me that much ;)

It was strange going back. In a way, walking through the halls of the department and going into the lab.. it felt like I never left. Things still smelled the same- for me, my sense of smell is very tightly bound to my memories. I went there every day for 4 years, and although it’s only been 2 months, it feels like another person who was there.

And for the most part, I enjoyed the time I spent there. It just wasn’t the ‘forever’ plan for me. I have bigger and better things to do, I think. But it still made me a little sad… there are things and people there that have made quite a mark in my life- some of them more than they will ever realize- and to see them all again just brought it all back and made me remember. Which is good, because I’m afraid I was forgetting.

This all sounds incredibly melodramatic, all for a place of WORK. But really, it’s about the people there, not the job or the work. Today a lot of people were asking me how I like my new job. Of course I said it’s going great, and it is. But I also told them that the people and relationships just aren’t the same. I’m not sure if it’s me, holding back because a) I know/hope that I won’t really be there that long.. a year? Less? A little more? and b) I’m afraid that it will be the same as at my old job and I will miss these people just as much. And that would SUCK. :P I also think it’s the environment I’m in now too. Cubicles and offices just aren’t as conducive to silliness and getting to know people like a shared lab bench with everyone using the same equipment, sometimes at the same time. You get to know each other real quick!

Anyway. Such drama/emotions. It’s funny because Dan doesn’t get attached to people like that at all (at least he likes to say he doesn’t… I’m skeptical of that myself) It was the one thing I knew I would miss when I left. I just didn’t think going back would make me REALLY miss them. It was so fun sitting around the lunch table with our food from my favorite place, listening to Mark try to think of all of the things he wanted to tell me in the few hours I was there, laughing at his silly stories, eating brownies that I brought for a treat…

I’m so silly.

comments

1. Joan
   September 3rd, 2005 @ 9:18 pm

   I had the same relationship with my ex-colleagues. Even after most of us left the company, we still keep in touch and ALWAYS reminisce of the good old days.

   Like you, I also kept a distant relationship with my future colleagues for the very same reason you mentioned.

   However, I am having so much fun on my current job, I don’t feel the same way anymore.