Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

"Hel-LO Me-CHELLE...."

One of my co-workers died unexpectedly last weekend.

She has left an amazing hole in our organizations's staff.  She'd been with us since 2005, and I told her once that her real title was "Director of First Impressions" because for the first year I worked there, she was our receptionist. 

She was the person in the office who made sure everything ran smoothly.  She did all the things behind the scenes that made it a nice place to work...a comfortable place to be.  She stocked oatmeal in the kitchen, and made sure we had enough coffee and utensils. 

She eventually moved up into the HR department to help with attendance processing and payroll, and I was forever getting emails from her to update my attendance records or approve the records of those who report to me...I'm really bad at that when I'm on the road.

Yet - she was always smiling.  I never once saw her in a bad mood. Ever.  I would always apologize that she had to chase me down...she'd just smile and wave me away.  Or say good morning with her beautiful Barbados accent and laugh at me as I blast through the door first thing in the morning and head straight to the soda machine for my EPDC.

She was a very devout woman, so it may be fitting somehow that she died at church. Surrounded by family and friends. I hope she never knew or felt anything.  People who hear this say "That's the way to go...".  And they are right.

She leaves behind a husband and four children that she referred to as #1, #2, #3 and #4. We never really knew their names. She also leaves behind 78 people who will miss her cheerful smiles every day.

I will always remember her as the originator of one of my favorite expressions. WTF is the acronym for a well-known interjection.  We asked her once, laughing, if she knew what it meant - just to see if she'd actually say it as she NEVER swore.  She looked at us with a twinkle in her eyes and perfectly straight face and said sternly - "Wednesday, Thursday, Friday."

Yes Ma'am.  It does. 

And from then on, it became the staff inside joke. We could say "Wednesday, Thursday, Friday" in front of anyone.  WE would know what we meant...and smile as we say "Oh, sorry - just going over my schedule in my head...". 

E and I were talking about her while we were in San Francisco.  How much we will miss her.  And all of the stories that everyone is sharing.  They all make us laugh. Or smile.  There simply are no stories about her melting down at the conference,  arguing with anyone or having a bad day. 

That....is the way to go.