One of my colleagues shared with us in August that we was planning to retire at the end of September. He had been working with the team for 8 years – hired in towards the end of his career agewise – and had been through some major life challenges this past year. He was set to be financially secure and was ready for retirement.
Our little trio of “nerds among the marketers” was about to become a duo.
So, we had a month or so to prepare and extract all the notes and documentation we could from him. I was his direct supervisor so it was my job to balance the documentation efforts with continuing work on projects – mindful that we couldn’t really start on anything long term.
I also wanted to give him a good sendoff – so I arranged for a group of us to go to lunch to celebrate this week and sent around a card for people to sign.
He worked as a designer for us and had an art degree – but lost much of his art (and everything else) in a house fire. So, I got him a gift of art supplies to get him started creating again – now that he would have more time. He was deeply touched and at lunch told us all how much he enjoyed working with the team.
That was Wednesday and since we are usually remote on Thursday and Friday, it made the “have a good evening” goodbye a little more poingant.
The three of us stood talking for a few minutes as we wrapped up the day. And, in his case, his career with us.
But it was time for me to go so I stuck out my hand for a handshake. We shook hands and I wished him well.
As I walked out the door, it occured to me that it might be the last time I saw him. He lives a few cities away and wouldn’t have a need to visit campus. And, well, we didn’t have much in common beyond work.
Eight years is a long time to work with someone and our trio had been mighty. We solved impossible problems with unrealistic deadlines and I used to joke we could…
…brainstorm so hard that we changed the weather.
At least that one time.
So it felt like the end of an era and I was troubled a bit by it in the quiet of the evening.
But, that moment of introspection didn’t last. Today, while we were all working remote, I got a text message from him on what should have been his last working day. He had decided to go into the office today to turn in his keys and computer – something that is usually done on the last day of employment (the end of the month, usually). But, those keys he turned in had been for our old office and he never picked up keys to our new location. Since he never went in on weekends and was never the first person in the office, he hadn’t needed them – and just left his own office in the suite unlocked. Except today, everyone was remote and the main doors to the suite were locked.
He wanted me to come into the office to unlock the door for him. I tried to beg off until I realized he was already there and I decided I could make it work. It would be one last nice thing I could do for him before he left and save him a trip back to campus on Monday.
I met him at the office, unlocked the door, and helped him pack up his laptop to return to IT. We chatted a bit as he worked and when he was ready he gave me a big hug and thanked me. I walked him out and then turned to go to my car and head back home. He emailed me later with the “receipt” for his computer so I’d have it.
And that was goodbye – again.
Next week I’ll clean his office and get things ready for the next person. A replacement for his position has been approved and we’ll start that process soon.
I may not see him again – or I may run into him at some odd moment. Or maybe we’ll get the team – and all the members over the years – together again someday.
Things change and things end.