Over on the far right is Rose. Rose started after I did at the Mary and was one of my favorite people to work with. If I had to build a personality that was warm, open, funny, strict when necessary, calming when appropriate, it would be Rose. With most people I have to worry a bit about saying something stupid or not being quick or funny. But not when I'm around Rose. I seem to always be at my wittiest with her because she is easy, real easy to be around. That is a testament to her ability to relate and to make you feel like the most important person in the room. She was a youth counselor and is now, at least for one more day, a juvenile probation officer for Knox County.
When I first knew her she was just out of college and interned with us at Mary Davis. I've been around a lot of interns and usually they are more drag than delight. Rose was all delight. When I walked in to work every shift I first found out who I was working with. Days off, switches, and sickness meant you didn't always know. One of my pet theories was the staff working each shift decided the way that shift would go. It seemed like the more aggressive and authoritarian staff always had more problems than the laid back casual teams. In short, when Rose was working with me I was happy. We gave off good vibes and that transferred to the kids.
When I first knew her she was just out of college and interned with us at Mary Davis. I've been around a lot of interns and usually they are more drag than delight. Rose was all delight. When I walked in to work every shift I first found out who I was working with. Days off, switches, and sickness meant you didn't always know. One of my pet theories was the staff working each shift decided the way that shift would go. It seemed like the more aggressive and authoritarian staff always had more problems than the laid back casual teams. In short, when Rose was working with me I was happy. We gave off good vibes and that transferred to the kids.
Originally from the hollers of Tennessee, the Divine Miss M(insert last name here) and her family landed in Bushnell. Devoted to Elvis she took a lot of flak from us.
Rose, or Rosita, as I called her, is one of those folks who are blessedly unconcerned by time. There are those, like myself, who go to extreme pains to make the trains run on time. I'm like the conductor in The Polar Express, always checking the time and remarking how late we are. But Rose has no compunction or obsession with time. If it takes 2 hours to chat with her kid when the usual allotment is 20 minutes, so be it. Her probation kids mind and they don't mind. What they get is an interminable run-through on events at school and home, and as an added bonus they have someone who genuinely cares about their welfare.
As for our time at the Mary, I couldn't have asked for a better coworker. Back in those days there were only two of us on a shift. Hell, I can remember working by myself, too. But usually it was two of as, a male and female in order to take care of all our kids. We also worked all shifts, on consecutive weeks. A 4 on, 2 off schedule. You have to like who you worked with or you had a damn long shift. And I liked Rose. In fact, in all the hours we worked together I can't ever remember being pissed at her. Never. She has that kind of open, friendly personality that makes it tough to get on your raw side. I'm sure I don't have that gift but she does.
Rose, or Rosita, as I called her, is one of those folks who are blessedly unconcerned by time. There are those, like myself, who go to extreme pains to make the trains run on time. I'm like the conductor in The Polar Express, always checking the time and remarking how late we are. But Rose has no compunction or obsession with time. If it takes 2 hours to chat with her kid when the usual allotment is 20 minutes, so be it. Her probation kids mind and they don't mind. What they get is an interminable run-through on events at school and home, and as an added bonus they have someone who genuinely cares about their welfare.
As for our time at the Mary, I couldn't have asked for a better coworker. Back in those days there were only two of us on a shift. Hell, I can remember working by myself, too. But usually it was two of as, a male and female in order to take care of all our kids. We also worked all shifts, on consecutive weeks. A 4 on, 2 off schedule. You have to like who you worked with or you had a damn long shift. And I liked Rose. In fact, in all the hours we worked together I can't ever remember being pissed at her. Never. She has that kind of open, friendly personality that makes it tough to get on your raw side. I'm sure I don't have that gift but she does.
We had a volleyball group for a few years organized I think by Jim G. She was part of that and always attended the social functions afterward. We had bad habits back then, too, like going to the bars after ours shifts and smoking at work. Ever the trooper she managed to do both with fervor. In my minds eye I can still see those mounded cigarette butts in the ash trays after a third shift filled with laundry washing and backgammon.
We never really tell each other how we appreciate them and how better our lives are with them in it. We generally float along talking of present generalities and skipping the mushy stuff. We see life as a never-ending continuum with "maybe next time" on our minds as we say goodbye. The only reason I made it as long as I did in Court Services was because of the people I worked with. One of our usual bar conversations was the dream of getting out and getting jobs that paid better. None of us ever did. Was it the calling to work with and help young kids? Was it the camaraderie of those we worked? Was it the natural laziness that comes with decades of doing the same thing? Probably all and more. But as I sit here typing, I can only recall those with whom I worked. Great people who gave ceaselessly to their clients, the Court System and each other.
We never really tell each other how we appreciate them and how better our lives are with them in it. We generally float along talking of present generalities and skipping the mushy stuff. We see life as a never-ending continuum with "maybe next time" on our minds as we say goodbye. The only reason I made it as long as I did in Court Services was because of the people I worked with. One of our usual bar conversations was the dream of getting out and getting jobs that paid better. None of us ever did. Was it the calling to work with and help young kids? Was it the camaraderie of those we worked? Was it the natural laziness that comes with decades of doing the same thing? Probably all and more. But as I sit here typing, I can only recall those with whom I worked. Great people who gave ceaselessly to their clients, the Court System and each other.
There are folks you work with that you tend to either dislike a lot, are ambivalent about, or truly enjoy. Some people are just comfy. Easy to talk to, laugh with and have fun.
Rose was one of the 'truly enjoys'. Good luck Rose and now maybe you can join us for breakfast.
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