Sometimes I think that it's a blessing that we can't see into the future...
A while back a work reunion was organised from the building company I worked before having a family, it's more than 18 years since I left. Today was the day we all met for lunch, it wasn't a full compliment but the person I really wanted to meet again was still going, so despite feeling a bit under the weather, I made it to the venue - the last to arrive as usual!
As I walked into the bar I noticed everyone in the far corner. And there she was, my old sales director, 20 years older than me - almost exactly - and still looking much the same as she always did. She hadn't changed a bit, still beautiful, slightly caustic and definitely superior! But that is only on the outside. We had mutual respect for each other in those days, I envied her her strength and she admired my design sense. We had worked well together.
She left the company not long before I did, she had breast cancer and to my shame, I didn't keep in touch. In the last 20 years she has had a mastectomy, lost her husband to suicide, had several failed dating agency relationships, several high powered jobs and had recently married a millionaire. So much drama in not many years, perhaps a blessing we don't know what the future holds?
Today we reminisced about working together, we always had a ball! I don't think the workplace is like that anymore - everyone is so 'professional' now! In those days her ashtray on her desk was piled high with fag ends and once the architect dept dressed as ninja turtles and kidnapped her PA!
Today we talked about all the sites we worked with, she remembers all the house designs and I remember the names of the hundreds of meters of fabric I ordered. "Which was your favourite" she asked
"I loved them all" I replied "otherwise I wouldn't have been able to do my job"
All that time ago, but it is still in our bones and, now I've thought about it, sadly missed by us all.
As we left, we kissed in the car park. "You look amazing" I told her
"You always have" she replied. And we parted ways again.
Who knows what the future holds?
Goodness....... what a lot of things can happen in twenty years! Best we don't know what's in store for us.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, pleased you had a good time. I'm never sure what to think about reunions, generally speaking!
Maggie x
Nuts in May
Wow! Twenty years later, and the same kind of relationship. That's awesome. I'm so glad you had that opportunity.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
"Que sera sera" as Doris Day said. I'm glad to hear you both still look wonderful. Can you tell us more about the millionaire your friend married? Athletic type or pot-bellied? How many millions roughly?
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered if we could see into the future whether we would change our decisions at the time. I always think so, but then again I'm not the same person I was 30 or 40 years ago--not nearly so naive and idealistic as then, so I'd probably just make the same mistakes:)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you and your co-worker were able to re-connect and enjoy the evening.
By the way, love the photo on your last post!
Makes you appreciate how extraordinary all our lives actually are when we stop to think about them.
ReplyDeleteMy word, she has crammed in a lot! But as you say, best not to know what the future holds.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely better not to know, but good to talk about to after it happens xx
ReplyDelete