Change is in the Wind

I know that it has been a while since I wrote anything on here. A lot has happened...FIVE PEOPLE WERE FIRED!!

Okay, let me back up a bit. At the end of June, we were all called into the living room and told that we were having a meeting about restructuring. In my naiveté, I thought that this meant we were all going to switch cubicles. But then when they began the meeting, I noticed that one entire department was MIA. I got nervous. Turns out, at the same time that our executive director was telling us about how headquarters was going to "move forward," the HR gal was upstairs breaking the same news to the women who were being let go. One of those women was Ermatrude. There was also the 80 year old who went to college with my grandma. And the mailroom lady (whose son got stuck in the elevator recently, haha). And people from the Membership department. So this basically shocked and appalled everyone sitting with me in the living room. I mean, these ladies are our friends and the executive director never reeeeally gave any good reasons as to why they were being handed pink slips.

The good news was that new positions were being created--new positions for three administrative assistants and four positions in the revamped Membership department. And anyone, including those who had been fired, could apply.

So fast forward to last Thursday (two weeks after the horrible restructuring meeting). Everyone knew that Ermatrude had applied for one of the new secretary positions. I mean, that's what she is. On her tombstone it will probably say, "Ermatrude: Newly Appointed Administrative Assistant to God." Or something along those lines. I know that I wasn't the only person who felt conflicted as to what I wanted for Erm. I mean, even though she's an odd bird, she has only the best intentions and is always there if you want to chat or vent about a bad day. On the other hand, she kind of sucks at her job. So it was complicated and I was just glad I wasn't the one making the ultimate decision about her.

At the end of the day last Thursday, the HR gal was letting people know about the positions to which they had applied. Janie got one of the new Membership positions (hooray!), as did one of my other friends here in town who is a couple of years older than Janie and me (huzzah!). But poor Erm...I could here her crying quietly at her desk, ignoring the phone (no different than normal). At one point, someone came up and tried to comfort her...they said Erm should try to apply to a law firm somewhere, because they were always in need of administrative assistants. And then Erm replied, "But this office is my life!" aaaand my heart broke.

So that's why I haven't written for a week. I feel bad for Ermatrude...and the other four people who were fired. Though actually, one was going to quit anyway because she just got into grad school, and my grandma's friend was getting ready to retire (come on, she is 80, it's TIME). The other two were furious and I don't really blame them. I think they had both worked here for about 25 years (no exaggeration there).

And I hate to say it, but I sort of miss ol' Erm. Because you know who has temporarily taken over her desk and her duties? Winnie the Pooh. That's right. I cannot escape her.