I forgot!
My coworker had emergency surgery, so we were unprepared for her absence.
The week prior, she was on vacation. Vacations you prepare for. We had someone there every day. With the surgery, we just weren’t ready.
I kept telling everyone I was fine, but I got daily check-up calls from our home office. They didn’t like a woman being alone.
But I made it through the week just fine.
Until that last day. That last day gets you every time, y’all!
A customer came in, and I took a payment.
A normal transaction I assumed.
As the customer left, my bedridden coworker called to check on me.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Just took a payment.”
“Who for?”
I told her the name, and she gasped.
“Oh, Adina. I’m so sorry you were alone when he came in. Are you OK?”
“I’m fine! He was just making a payment.”
“Adina! Do you NOT remember him from last time?”
“Uhm. No. Evidently not.”
“He came in drunk and threatened you.”
“Now, Kitty. Surely I would remember the face? That cannot be him.”
“I’m telling you Adina, it is.”
She hung up after making me promise to stay locked in tight. And I’m pretty sure I heard her curse as she hung up the phone.
I looked up the account and sure enough, that was him. The notes were there. My own notes.
I thought about it for a long time that afternoon.
How could I not remember the face of someone who had been that unkind to me?
I mean, I know seeing the perky side of things is my forte. This is where I dwell.
But this?
This is odd even for me.
As I read the notes, I remembered the smell of his breath, and the words that he said. I remembered the invisible wall of professional distance he had encroached upon and gotten all too close.
So…
How did I not remember THIS face?
The answer is simple. I chose not to, without even knowing it.
I didn’t make him the subject of my Blog the next day, although it would have made for a captivating read.
I did not call anyone at the home office. I simply notated the account. My coworker only knew because she was there.
I did not even E-mail my friend who I tell everything.
And I remember doing these things because I didn’t want that to be my first thought of the day for the next few weeks.
I knew people would E-mail or call, and that would be my first working thought of the day. Every day. For at least a week.
But there is a protective wall and a locked door between me and anyone who walks in. While the situation was annoying, I never truly feared for my safety. So I saw no need to dwell on it.
And I learned something…
When you don’t dwell in the negative, each day really is a new day!
