MUSINGS FROM THE MIND OF AMANDA

In March, I left a position I’d held for over seventeen years. I worked very hard to make the position a success, and had an excellent working relationship with my colleagues. I even though some of them were friends.

I was wrong.

I didn’t leave the company I worked for; I just moved to a different division. I recommended a friend for my job, and had a month or so to train her. She didn’t listen. Insisted on doing it her way, even though she didn’t know enough about it have a way. When I left, she asked someone else in the office about any questions, even though I’d specifically told her to ask me. After all, I still work for the same company.

I thought I’d still hear from the people I’d worked with. I spent hours every week working while one of them rambled about stories from the seventies and eighties, most of which happened before I was even born. I listened to his stories about he was always the underdog hero, and how he accomplished the greatest things even though nobody thought he would.

I think I’ve heard from him twice.

Another “friend” used to spend hours every week telling me all his political and religious theories. Smart guy. Very interesting to listen to. We talked about all those things, and books and music and movies. Listened to stories about his basic training and some of the things he did in the army.

Haven’t heard from him,.

One of the ladies, the one who thinks she’s the boss, has known me since I was fifteen. That’s a long time, folks…32 years. I think she’s sent me one message since I left

And you know what? It hurts. They were a huge part of my life. In fact, over a third of my life was spent with these people. And now they aren’t even interested in speaking to me, even though I spent hours listening to them. I guess it’s true – colleagues aren’t necessarily your friends.

And it hurts.