by Just Lin
It was 1996 when Jennifer and I first started working together. She helped train me on the computer program and other office protocol at the animal hospital. Although I had worked in the field before, there was much to learn at my new place of employment. Jennifer was smart and fast. Actually, she was rather frenetic. True, it was a very busy and sometimes chaotic practice, but still, Jennifer was like the Energizer Bunny; go, go, go. It soon became noticeable that she took an unusual number of bathroom breaks. I heard from a reliable source that she was seen emerging from the restroom with white powder around her nostrils. After a while, there started to be incidences where money was missing from the cash drawer at the end of the day. One night the hospital was broken into and whoever did it went straight to some particular drugs and didn't touch anything else. Some of us wondered if these events could be traced back to Jennifer. There was no evidence, just a nagging suspicion.
One of Jennifer's projects was to work on some older client charts. She was allowed to take them home to work on them. The last time she did this she didn't return to work a couple of days later when expected. A few more days passed and then we learned that she had taken the charts with her when she drove to LA with her boyfriend. While there, they were arrested and held on drug charges and the boyfriend's car was impounded. The charts were returned to us but it was the end of Jennifer's employment. I never learned what happened on her court date.
Sometime over the past year, I started spotting Jennifer down at our local shopping center. I only saw her a few times and always from afar, never close enough to say hello. On those few occasions that I did see her, she was with a little boy and I observed that she was very patient and loving with him. I also saw her drive away in a very nice SUV. I hadn't seen her in many years, but because of my past experience with her, I wondered if she was now working as a nanny or, if the boy was hers, perhaps she and her boy were living with her parents.
A few days ago, I ran into Jennifer at the grocery store. She was with a little boy who was older than the one I'd seen her with before. She was looking at produce and was only a few feet away so I turned to her and said, "Hello, Jennifer". She looked at me, raised her eyebrows and smiled. Her expression was open and friendly as she leaned in close to me and said, "I don't know who you are." LOL How refreshing! I always try to fake it when I don't know someone I'm supposed to know.
Okay, it was a long time ago that we worked together and I've lost some weight and my hair is darker, but still..........we had worked side by side, closely, for at least a year. I reminded her of who I was and then I could see the light of recognition in her eyes. She seemed genuinely happy to see me and she introduced me to her 8 year old son, who had impeccable manners, and told me she was married and had another son, age 3. She said a lot had changed in her life since we worked together and I could certainly see that was true. Of all the scenarios I had come up with for Jennifer, that she would now be happily married and the mother of two, was not one of them. For the last few years, she's been a stay-at-home mom but now she wants to go back to school. She said she had worked for a while in the medical field and is interested in becoming a respiratory therapist.
I am really happy for Jennifer that her life has turned out so well. Perhaps it was the experience down in LA that turned things around for her.....a blessing in disguise. She seems very happy now, relaxed, content and healthy.
Do you know someone whose life course took an unexpected turn? Also, what do you do when confronted with someone you don't recognize? Do you fess up to it like Jennifer or do you try and fake it like me?
44 comments:
J/L: Oh, I love this blog Justlin! Thanks for telling that story. I am so glad that Jennifer did well with her life and is happy..yay! :)
My life took an unexpected turn when I realized I could no longer stay where I was this past summer. I have faith and hope now. That was hard to come by this past year. I still let fear take me over sometimes but I am getting better at handling it. Every time I am hard on myself I try to remind myself to remember how far I have come. :)
Secondly, I have lived a few different places and met many people over my life when I worked retail, etc. So, I have a terrible time remembering where I've seen someone or what their name is. I am honest and just tell them. I don't try to hide it because it's useless..they know when they look at me, everyone recognizes that look of absolute confusion..lol. So, the only person I would be fooling would be myself! :) It is embarassing to not remember.
Maybe Jennifer didn't remember because she didn't want to remember that really dark time in her life anyway.
Okay..I think I missed first because I didn't realize I was the first..ha ha....
Oh, I guess not!
Good morning!!
Good morning Bebbi & DeeDee. That's an inspirational blog.
I often don't recognize people. No sense pretending.
DeeDee, how's that hairy mole on your arse?
Morning everyone...Great blog and story J?L. It is nice to hear of someone really turning their life around. I can't think of a story to relate right now. I am usually fairly good remembering names but if I don't....I fess up right away and re-introduce myself.
I haven't been able to find time to blog the last few days as my younger Granddaughter has been here since Monday. She doesn't go back "on track" to school until 1/24 and mom is out of town at a convention. The hours work out with my other GD for dad to take care of her. We went to see Tangled yesterday and we were the only ones in the theater...of course it was a raging blizzard outside! We then went to the OG for our soup/salad dinner. Today we are going to get our nails done and Em is making dinner tonight!!! She made cookies yesterday.
I loved reading the blogs this week and thank all of you for writing them for us.
ZONA: Hope you are feeling better today.
BEBBI; You are so extra lovely today and glad to see that you aren't "moaning".
AREA WHATEVER: Tina, I appreciated your information on the Saints and exactly how a person becomes one. As a Catholic my entire life, I have always prayed to Saints for different reasons. It's in my "Catholic blood".
MO: Happy late Birthday to your sweetie Cary. I hope you celebrated hard for his special day.
SACBARB: I don't think I could be a Walmart greeter just because I can't stand so long. I just met a lady that her 91 yr old mom had just quit being one a year before (she never wanted anyone to know her age). I was quite impressed that someone that old could be a greeter. I would hope that I wouldn't smack not a screaming child but a screaming parent!
bead squeezers...
Happy Thursday Owls.
Bebbi, You've come a loooong way baby and your beauty is shining through.
DeeDee, Bead squeezer????
Dianne, If you really want to be a Walamrt Greeter maybe they would let you sit down, or maybe you could ride one of those electric carts and stalk...errr greet customers that way.
Bonachichi, have you seen Dee's hairy mole?
J/L, that is a very interesting story. I don't think I know anyone who turned their life around. I often run into people who say hello to me whom I don't remember. I always fess up because I'm not good at faking it. However, a few weeks ago Sharon and I had to go into the State Retirement office and a woman called out my name. When I turned to see her I immediately recognized her as a co-worker from a long time ago, but I could NOT come up with her name. I was too embarrassed to ask her so we had a generic conversation about the usual, you know, how's the family, what have you been doing, yada, yada. I was so happy when my number was called so I could leave the conversation. I still cannot remember her name.
***************JBJ ALERT*************
JBJ will be on Oprah today!!!!
**************************************
I DO NOT HAVE A HAIRY MOLE!!!
heres the menu from the state dinner for Chines president One Hung-Lo...
First
D'Anjou Pear with Farmstead Goat Cheese Fennel, Black Walnuts, and White Balsamic
Second
Poached Maine Lobster
Orange Glaze Carrots and Black Trumpet Mushrooms (theres a reason they call em trumpet)
Wine: DuMol Chardonnay "Russian River" 2008 (California)
Lemon Sorbet
Main
Dry Aged Rib Eye with Buttermilk Crisp Onions
Double Stuffed Potatoes and Creamed Spinach
Wine: Quilceda Creek Cabernet "Columbia Valley" 2005 (Washington State)
Dessert
Old Fashioned Apple Pie
with Vanilla Ice Cream
Wine: Poet's Leap Riesling "Botrytis" 2008 (Washington State)
the first and second course would have given me the squirts so I wouldn't have been there long enough to play Chinese Twister....
Streisand was there...she told the Chinese President that she used to work at a Chinese Restaurant....
Hello Hooters!
Liked your story J/L and for the record I always fake knowing someone. Then I turn to my husband, friend or whomever I might be with and say 'who was that"?? LOL
Happens all the time at work. A client will show up unexpectedly and say, 'remember me'? Then I find out that they were here 10 years ago-once. I have a much easier time placing someones voice rather then thier face.
Can't think of any life turning events for someone like your story.
Cold, cold, cold outside. Windchills to -30 tonight. Brrrrr
LOL@ bead squeezers!
Good morning DeeDee: LOL, love the last part..Streisand worked at a Chinese Food place..lol.
Dianne, I am so enjoying anytime you talk about things you do with your grandkids..what fun! They sure can fill up the spaces with love I imagine. :)
Hi Bonachichi: ROFLMAO...hairy mole..goodness woman..you crack me up!
Sacbarb: Thanks! :) I have..!! :)
and I hope you are having a lovely day!
Goldie: Ummm...brrrrr!!
DeeDee does too have a hairy mole!! It has a twin which resides on Tina's arse.
I know this because of the Fart Paradox which Whab will tell you, is in any physics book. When you fart, you blame someone else. They're both saying the other has the hairy mole, so they both have a hairy mole. See? It's simple.
Now... I did see someone turn their life around. Sheesh, don't any of you know any current or former drug addicts??
This gentleman was in deep. He took every kind of drug he could get his hands on. I never heard of some of the stuff he was taking.
He "scheduled" his own intervention by telling everyone he was going to jump 4 stories into cardboard boxes, and that we should come watch.
We did. And we brought friends. Drug counselors and law enforcement. He was put in the loony bin for a few days, then went directly to rehab. After rehab, he went to a sober living facility where he stayed over a year.
He is currently drug-free and a much better person, if you ask me. Sometimes, it really works.
I didn't see any hairy mole on Tina when I slept with her
Dianne She probably shaved for the occasion. LOL
Bonach I'm glad your friend/acquaintance is doing well now. He is very, very lucky that you and his other friends cared enough to intervene in such a big way.
Bebbi You are absolutely radiant today. I am glad you have removed yourself from the path that was making you unhappy and have cleared the way for a new future full of possibilities.
DeeDee Hmm...your avatar...showing us your ass-ets?
Goldie I really hate it when I'm with someone and someone else comes up to me that I know but I don't remember their name. It's very awkward because, to be polite, I should introduce them to my companion.
Thanks for your comments, HOoters!
25
Dianne I love, love, love the Zuppa Toscana at the Olive Garden!
Bebbi: You would look stunning today. Absolutely stunning.
If it weren't for that hairy mole...
J/LIN: I've had people from grade school recognize me! You're right..they can see in your eyes when you don't know who they are..so I say HI and then ask them their name. I have enough trouble remembering what I wanted from the garage two minutes ago..there's no way I'm going to recognize someone from grade school! I usually know who they are when I hear their name though...thank goodness!!
Funny..I'm trying to think of someone who has turned their life around..and I can't come up with anyone. How about me? I had a horrible temper when I was young..I broke a knuckle once punching a wall. Sometime in my 20's I said "That's enough"..and I've rarely gotten mad since. Of course, some say I've gone too far in the other direction..LOL! Oh well... ;)
Bonachichi~ i distinctly remember telling you i do not have a mole...i only have hemorrhoids!!!~ you don't seem to listen.....do you want me to write this in Italian?~ ija~
Bebbi~ you look beautiful today.....even if ur not moaning~
J/L~ thanks for sending the blog~ I'm happy your friend turned her life around. It's a hard thing to do~
Di~ i wondered if you'd get snow...we only got rain~ :)~
DeeDee~ I can't believe believe you posted a pic of yourself!!! I thought it was bad enuf that the pic taker posted it on trashy WalMart's site~ ijs~
J/L~ I NEVER remember anyone's name....even friends~ So I just ask~ People look at me funny and think I'm kidding, so if they don't tell me their name, I make one up.....Bubba is my favorite....that and Penelope~ :D
Hi to Sackie, Goldie, and Bear~
lol....and hi to Kathy~
BEBBI: You look gorgeous today! I think you are handling things wonderfully..I wish I had your strength! You're a great inspiration whether you realize that or not! :)
DEEDEE: I think I'd like the main course and the dessert...you can keep the hairy mole. ;)
DIANNE: I'm doing fine..just overdid it yesterday. You ARE going to deliver some of that scrumptious dinner your granddaughter is making..aren't you? Some cookies too please. I've got the screen door open..just yell when you get here! :D
SACBARB: How was JBJ? Such a silly question..I know. :)
GOLDIE: Still in the 70's here..I want some winter..but not as much as you're getting! ;) Stay warm my friend! :)
BONACHI: Actually I don't think I do know any recovering drug addicts..or maybe I do but I've only known them since they've been in recovery..so I'm just unaware of it.
TINA: Oh..you've made up better names than that for me and I don't even think you forgot my name.. ;)
HI BEAR!! :D
BIRDEE: Once again!! :D
Good evening feathered friends!
BEBBI...your beauty today is only outdone by your inner beauty and strength!
JUST LIN...great blog! I'm glad Jennifer turned her life around. And also for the 2 young sons.
When I don't remember someone who approaches me I don't have to say anything...that can see it on my face and volunteer the info!
Your time with your GD sounds delightful. How did her basketball team do against the bullies?
ZONA...glad your tushie is better!
Good evening nesters!
Good blog Justlin. I love how she turned her life around!
I have run into many people who come up to me and say "Hi Mary, remember me?"! Sometimes If I look into their eyes I can remember. The mystery is, how do they remember me? lol!!
I usually say "General Motors? Chrysler? because usually they are from where I had worked.
A few had the bariatric surgery and I really looked blank at them!
One gal couldn't believe I didn't remember her. She had shed at least 200 lbs! She used to be a sweet gal until she lost all the weight. She seemed to have a chip on her shoulder towards men especially to the ones who never gave her a second look. She said "f--k them! She is one who turned to the worse.
It is freakin cold here! We have not had much snow so I am grateful for that. I am eating my own words "I don't care how cold it is as long as we have clean roads"! LOL!!
Bebbi, my lovely, you have come a long way! I am proud of you! I am also grateful for your keeping me going on my exercising. You rock!
Hi, Kathy!
J/L: I've certainly got a story of somebody who's life certainly took an unexpected and permanent turn for the worse!
I fell in love, for the first time in my life, with my office-mate in grad school. We were very close, really enjoyed spending time together, and were doing quite well in school, both with ambitions of continuing on, doing a Ph.D., etc.
But the first hint that things weren't going to go true to form for him was when he dropped out after finishing his Masters. He'd gotten married, and had two wonderful daughters, but the marriage crumbled under the weight of his increasingly distant and odd behavior, toward both is wife and children.
Today, I'm still very friendly with his wife, who I really like, but neither she nor his daughters ever see him, and he apparently has no interest in contact with them. I haven't spoken to him in 25 years.
Puzzling and instructive is life!
Whabby, that is a mystery! Sounds like my ex. He totally dropped out of life. He has kept to himself, hating any contact with people. He now lives in a self made cabin like shack in the woods. Neither sons have any contact with him. It's like he detached himself from life.
Ass hole lol!!
MO: The GD with the bullies lost the game to them on Saturday but she and her best friend fouled the two girls "accidentally" . The principal has contacted my daughter from her email. The GD at my place this week is the younger one as she is on year round track and goes back to school from winter vacation on Monday...(she said she would have tripped them as she is tougher than her sister)!
Interesting stories today to read on the blog....
My son and family got a dog tonight. It is a Multese and so darn cute and only a couple of months old. I am not a pet person but I could have taken this little girl doggie home with me in a second.
Dianne That would me Maltese. : ) Congrats on the new grand-doggie. So cute!
Oh, and I would have fouled those girls "accidentally", too.
Mary Hmmmm. That's what the Unibomber did. :(
Bear Couldn't face up to his responsibilities, apparently. Sad, isn't it?
MO Thank you. :)
JUST LIN...you're welcome!
For what?
MO For saying "great blog".
I only speak the truth!
Why in tarnation am I awake???
I don't know. Why are you awake?
I'm signing off now. Good night, MO. I hope you are able to get some rest.
Sweet dreams, HOoters.
Post a Comment