It's a very rare thing for me to talk about work, actually talk about it, with people outside of it. My friend Jake is one of those rare exceptions, a friend from work that I hang out with on occasion outside of work. And of course, Michelle and I were once co-workers, long before we moved in together. Anyway, the point is, today is the last day that this woman named Joy (henceforth, Joy #2) will be working at the Bruce Hutchison Branch of the GVPL. I feel quite strange about that. Joy #2's been working almost all the Saturdays I have, and I've worked a lot of them. She's one of those shining lights in the workplace, I think, because most of the people I work with are shy and reserved older women or young, mousey types who don't want to say too much to me. Joy #2, on the other hand, is a big and boisterous woman who works as a clerical and says "Good on ya," when I stumble into work hungover beyond belief with an cigar-irritated throat. "So it started out as a wine-tasting party," she notes, "But by the end you were just chugging it back, right?" Too right, I'm afraid.
I think I'll miss her just because everybody's so quiet. Jake talks to me, and so does Amanda, but I never work with Amanda and Jake is only around at the same time on Thursdays for an hour before he goes off shift. Joy #2 shows up with a tupperware container of soy butter for everyone, and refers to her husband as The Old Man. One of her sons - Dallas, I think his name is - worked in Vancouver doing film industry stuff and has recently moved to, of all places, Nanaimo. She likes to get drunk on margaritas and many a Saturday have we discussed my night plans - usually the benefits of excess Chocolate martinis for my health. She makes it a bit more bearable to be in the dusty old library when grand ideas are going through my head, or the thump-thump-thump of alcoholic dehydration. We discuss movies (as opposed to film), and all kinds of crazy stories. I remember telling her about my ill-fated body-hopping prosititute story.
Not sure who exactly is going to take her place. There's one or two nameless auxillary staffers working today, which is odd because usually people introduce themselves but I can barely remember my own name. Hopefully it'll be someone with a slight attitude and alcoholic proclivities, maybe a belly-laugh and a love for discussing good food - I swear, we spend a good hour everyday Saturday discussing what's for dinner.