Things I Learned From My Friend Rosemary

I had a coworker that I worked with for over 10years she was an amazing person to be with.

The first time I saw her she was dropping off her application at our office and she had a huge smile on her face. She was pretty and stylish and friendly. She smiled at everyone in the office not just the people she was trying to get an interview with. She was applying to be our office manager and when she got the job we were all very excited instead of being nervous about what kind of person she would be to work with.

As it turned out she was the best thing that ever happened to our office. She came in with huge smiles and an attitude that made everyone in the office feel lighthearted and glad to be there. Our boss had just fired an office manager that was causing conflict among the staff and bringing the moral down not to mention nearly putting the office in bankruptcy as well.

Rosemary was like magic. Not only did she make everyone feel better about coming to work she also knew the job she was doing very well and helped turn the business around quickly to producing and collecting more revenue. I went on to work with her for 5 years in this office and then later worked with her again another 5 yearsiwth another company. I think that she is responsible in many ways for making me the person I am today.

The things I learned from Rosemary:
· She could take any ordinary day or typical situation and make it into a party. We once had a patient bring a huge bag of tomatoes for our staff. Instead of just dividing up the tomatoes to give to everybody Rosemary saw the opportunity for a party. She organized a Salsa making party assigning each of us to bring an ingredient the next day to work. Our boss promised to supply a bottomless bag of tortilla chips and sodas. None of us had ever made salsa before so it was a new and exciting thing for us. The next day during the mid morning hour she went back to the break room and began putting our salsa together. We all went back to take peaks at the process. When it was finally done and the tasting began. The salsa was good but it was the atmosphere that was incredible. She had taken a bag of tomatoes and made us laugh with each other, smile at each other, and enjoy being at work with each other.

· She was also the queen of the Car Picnic. In our next job we traveled all over Northern California together by car. Some of the best times we shared in that car were our Car Picnics. No matter where we were she would always find a deli or a grocery store where we would go in and purchase the items for our picnic. I remember driving over the bridge near Martinez one sunny afternoon with her stuffing our faces with French bread and salami sandwiches. Oh and don’t forget the pepper jack cheese!
· She was the best shopper I ever met. She new how to find a bargain whether it was at Nordstrom, Wal-Mart, or the thrift store. She was someone who shopped everywhere. She would scour the sale racks and didn’t even think twice about wearing a Wal-Mart shirt with a Nordstrom Jacket. If it looked great then she would go for it. She loved food! And when we went to Hawaii together she managed to find the place that served the best breakfast (pancakes, eggs, and bacon) for only $2.00.

· Probably the most important thing I learned from Rosemary was how to make other people feel that they are truly important. Rosemary would strive to make every patient that came into our office feel as though they were her very favorite patient. And, I believe they were at that precise time and moment. She would later teach me how to make each client’s office that I walked into feel as though they were my favorite client and my most important stop of the day. Before we got out of the car we checked our teeth and reapplied our lipstick so as to appear fresh and ready for them. Then we came in and greeted each person in the office with a warm hello, from the Dentist to the person emptying the trash. Rosemary was a natural at this but as I watched her I learned to do this too. It really isn’t difficult, it is just realizing that everyone has importance and significance. Later after I had quit my job to stay at home and be a mom I ran into one of the hygienist from a former client’s office. I asked her how my replacement was doing she said she didn’t know because she never talked to her. I thought how sad that my replacement lacked the understanding of the most important part of her job, to make everyone feel as though they are important to you.

Rosemary’s example has influenced my own Christian life. I have realized the importance of a warm hello and smile as well as the impact it can have on someone else. It is the very least as a Christian I can offer, and yet it is so powerful and in some ways even life changing.

End of Summer

Well summer is almost over at our house. Stuart has already started school and life seems to be more focused on the fall and what is in store, even though most days it is still pretty hot outside.

It seems like the summer just flew by and all of plans I had for the summer never got accomplished. I was thinking about this and decided maybe I needed to at least make a list of what I did do.

1. My husband Steve was in an accident on his motor scooter on the way to work one day towards the beginning of summer. He ended up with several broken ribs and a broken scapula. Although his injuries were pretty significant and kept him in the hospital for a couple of days they healed fast and didn't keep him in bed long. He spent six weeks off of work. I have a sneaking suspicion that this is what put a my summer into a tail spin. We loved having him home and spent plenty of time together as a family.

2. We did take one trip in our trailer this summer. We spent 4 days in an RV park up by Columbia California with my inlaws. This was during the heat wave in July and we primarily took this vacation because our air conditioner went out at home and we figured this way we could use the air in the trailer to stay cool. We swam, and looked in the shops at Murphy's and Sonora. The kids really enjoyed having Grandma and Grandpa so close.

3. We had our air conditioner and heater replaced with what they promise to be a much more efficient unit that will save us money. We certainly do hope to save money but we are extremely happy to have air conditioning again.

4. I have organized several key areas in my house a little better, I did 2 of my kitchen drawers, the tupperware cabinet, and my pantry. I also cleaned out a drawer in the front bathroom and my sock drawer. And finally my closet. I really do enjoy opening up my cabinets and drawers and seeing them nice and neat. Sometimes I open them up just to look and admire.

5. I spent a weekend in San Francisco with just my Mom. We went away together to celebrate our milestone birthdays. I turned 40 in May and she turned 60 in June. We stayed in the Union Square area and went to see a cute little play called "The 25th Annual Sputnick County Spelling Bee". It was very entertaining. We also shopped and discovered "The Container Store"! What an amazing place my Mom and I could have spent all weekend in there. This is where my organizing frenzy started. There are so many ideas you get from just looking.

6. Stuart and Leah and Steve all had birthdays this summer. Birthdays are always nice for getting together with friends and family.

As I look over the list I am amazed at how much I did do this summer. It was a very nice summer even though it was not necessarily the summer I had been planning of.

Take the time to make your own list and see what you have accomplished and what memories you made. It brings a little more perspective to the end of summer.