Today was my final day and I was excited enough to arrive at work 08:00AM. I decided to travel light and wore my mini-fanny pack to hold my wallet and cellphone. I wore at dark purple shirt in jewel tone. This happens to be the favorite color of my boss at work.
I sat down at my desk rather happily and logged on as usual with the lights at my cubicle turned off in hopes of leaving right away. I tried to call my contact person to hand over my paperwork but there was no answer. I gave up trying after thirty minutes to my dismay. And I printed some more email to review.
I did notice ‘Always Right’ (who tends to complain about the everything possible about work and me) talking to ‘Toad Souper’ earlier that morning in her biggest smile maybe after she read my printed email regarding my situation. Neither she nor the last person to interact with me, ‘Darkman WithGlee’ knew that today was my last day. I would have to send a goodbye letter but not today; not right away.
The boss came over to inquire about the lockbox and then about me. I honestly told her I accepted the truth that business was going to be as usual without me and nothing was personal with her. The choice had been made by me and there was no turning back to the days of being the queen of a small department. With some tears in her eyes and gentle reassurance of her left hand on my left shoulder, she walked away.
The usual 09:00AM meeting was rather casual as the boss opened the topic about her pet cat greeting her with paws around her neck, loving all animals from elephants to dolphins and wanting to house the strays and reading about animal abuse and rights. The boss is truly connected to the animal kingdom as her blood right dictates upon this native land.
The scary part was the conversation from the temporary worker, who describes people she has met while working at a photo place and how they hunt animals as a recreational sport and brag about their kills with photo opportunities. She seemed more Americanized and tougher than us taller ones. I wonder why the tiny folks in relative physical height seem to have much fighting spunk.
After the meeting, I later received an email from her to forward my paperwork someone from within department. I found out that I was to stay the whole day to the end as part of the transition to same temporary worker, and other contact information provided in the package. My badges and keys were to be handed over the manager and later joked to the boss via chatting about being escorted out the building with flowers and candies.
The transition was done very calmly and organized as we crossed trained each other on the functions that were done too fast by me and in half the time necessary to get the job done by a newbie. I was very anxious to get out of the building and towards a new life but continued as instructed until the facilities came over about a half hour prior to leaving.
The boss sat in my cubicle and got all dolled up for the evening with newly ordained ministers (which I not to familiar). I finished the last of the receipt batches and cleaned out more of my emails. The remaining four major email folders contained several follow-ups. I have already cleaned up the folders entitled: ‘My Documents’ over the course the same week and archived the chatting sessions via the web site.
With a brief discussion at the lobby about going back to school and other financial assistance and with a third handshake of farewell (one after two meetings), I was out the door. Dinner was eaten and I went to straight to bed obviously out of speaking too much while cross training the whole day. I awoke quite refreshed at around 03:00AM and began my newest career – blogging.
As an after note, I once again gagged on my post nasal drip when the temporary worker came over to sit at my desk for cross training. I guess the place was indeed making me sick; including the strong coffee I might have drank. I have read elsewhere that perhaps (if one were to believe in magic) I had a spell and later that I may have been under stress and did not realize that my coughing was subconscious in nature.
Final days are meant to be fair to the employer who has allowed the employees the opportunity to work and learn in a fast paced environment by transitioning over the work to others. This enables the department to continue without disruption, especially when the company is large. Regardless of company size the proper way to exit to leave on good terms in case reference for future employment is needed.
Copyright © 2007 by Fluffy von der Flynn. All rights reserved.
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