Work and play

It was nice to see N in Sacramento. We spent a day driving along the Sacramento River, visiting little towns surrounded by farm land. A hundred years ago the river was the highway, towns built up against it, huge grain silos and warehouses built along its shores. Now these towns struggle to stay alive, they bank on their cute little shops and cafes, their art galleries and historical buildings. N seems happy with his life. Some changes at his work made me think he might search for something else but he has decided to give it another year. I miss his thoughtful conversation, his excitement in discovery, his sense of humor. He has completed the first draft of his second novel and has some ideas for some short stories. It was hard to leave. S stayed while I boarded a flight for home. She will visit with N and her sister for the rest of the week. I had to return to work!

Speaking of work, a bizarre day yesterday. Note for the future, when the HR Manager shows up, beware! She showed up as we were eating lunch in the conference room. All the execs in the room left to meet with her. During the course of the afternoon there were meetings in the conference room. I heard raised voices and two people left the building looking upset and angry. Late in the day my boss said there would be a short meeting with all the staff. When we assembled we were told those people had been let go. I felt a tremendous sense of loss wash over me. They just made me a permanent employee so I suppose I shouldn’t worry too much. The varnish of my new job peeled a bit though.

Everything about the workplace seems so unnatural to me.