God Bless Betty

I didn't realize how starved I was for platonic companionship in the workplace until today.

Betty is probably fifty years old and answers the phone lines at the lab. Betty lets me in through the visitor's entrance when I forget my ID. On my very first day, Betty told me how to get to White Castle. But today, Betty was my friend.

I had just stapled a 401(k) announcement to the bulletin board and tossed last week's update in the recycling bin when Betty asked, "So, is anything going on?"

For a moment, I was startled, then confused. "Do you mean with me personally?"

"Well, yes," she said.

"Well, yes," I answered back, and proceeded to spill my current life saga about Luke moving in this weekend and that I was a little nervous but mostly excited and opinions are murky and my mother wants me to be married and this wasn't Plan A but, well, doesn't she think Luke and I want to be married, too? Because we do, and I know that Luke is thinking about proposing soon because I SAW THE BOOKMARKED LINKS, PEOPLE. And he knows I saw them, because he showed them to me, because he thinks my family and I don't have any faith that he's in this for The Long Haul. So yes, Betty, there is plenty going on and I have nobody at work to talk to about this with they are all too damned busy with urine samples and infant bowel movements to chit chat with me. And I lent my Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban DVD to the senior lab director in hopes of sparking a lifelong friendship, but alas, it has not happened just yet.

And dear Betty, she just listened and gave grandmotherly advice, and in her own way suggested that we could have upped a wedding just as easily as we upped moving in together. And then I was like, "Huh," and then, "Well, money, yeah..."

Huh.

So, OK, Luke is still totally moving in this weekend, but I have now deemed my House Fund (formerly known as Emergency Fund) as the Wedding Fund. Because really, it makes the most sense.

Thanks, Betty.

Comments

[Becky]

banana, wheat bread, apple.

and jello!

[Anonymous]

Becky, no clue what you're talking about in your comment. Must be sleep deprivation with your first issue of SJC's Contact... I think we both feel it's a little lonely as we put together this issue without Bree.

Bree, It's people like Betty and sweet, simple questions that people like Betty ask, and the fact that they actually sit and listen are one of the reasons I know this world, in fact, is not going to pot.

Here's to you, Betty.

-- Di

[Luke]

And if your friends are going to tell you how to get to White Castle, who is?

[Anonymous]

Grandmotherly........? That to me sounded like motherly advice. Fifty isn't that old...........trust me on this one.
Aunt Ruthie

[Anonymous]

The Universe does not judge your choices. It supports you in your spiritual growth and in the development of your responsibility as a creator.
I suggest that you not use your time considering the "what-ifs" of your life. They are endless. Your power is in the present moment. It is always in the present moment.Enjoy each choice you make.
Realize that you are worthy of your life and live it accordingly.
Just enjoy having each other and loving each other.
love you

[Crystal]

It's nice to have coworkers like that and to see some compassion in the workplace. I'm lucky that I currently work with a good group of people, but I have most definitely had my share of bad experiences.