Mimi Cheko

It was clearly written on her face. And I’m glad

A is a friend I have gained over a year ago. We met when I was routed to be introduced as a new employee. We clicked immediately, thanks to a common background and my winning personality (stop rolling those eyes, A.)

Through the over-one year we were officemates, we developed what I’d like to believe to be a close bond. We were part of a band of managers who shared jokes, stories, food, frustrations and ideas about work over the lunch table. We were fighting a common cause, the bond came easily. Age ceased to matter (to me at least. But then I was the oldest in the bunch.). We were just people. No one acted like a leader. No one more superior than another.

I became close to her. We usually talk about work stuff. When things happen, I either march to her cubicle and with my animated face and hands proceed to tell her what happened, or she’d buzz me then I’d go to her cubicle and react with my animated face and hands as she tells her story. Sometimes, especially when things are very busy, we’d chat online so work is not interrupted. Ah, I miss the head-shaking, the rolling-of-the-eyes, the snorts, the eyebrow-lifting and the universal hand gesture for they’re crazy.

Once in a while though, we delve on deeper subjects. No one can help it. Friendship was born.

One of the things the band enjoys is giving each other nicknames. That’s how she became A and I, D. We all have more than one nickname because we pick these up during the lunch conversations and the things that happen to us from day to day. This group has bonded so much we can understand sentences consisting mostly of tienes and chorva.

The it was time for her to go. A job offer. One that would give her the freedom of idea, space to flex her creativity, one where her voice will be heard, her contributions valued. Despite the fact that her departure, and those of the others whose own coincided with hers, would mean the group will be reduced to dramatically, no one attempted to stop her. We were all happy for her and we all knew it would be better for her.

After her last day at the office, she sent us an e-mail and made a few tears fall. She sang us a song. What could be better? (I can think of a few. Just kidding, A! Just kidding!)

Over the weekend, we received an invitation from her. It’s an event she’s handling for her new employer; one that is meant to get books for a public school library. It’s the kind of event that we both would do for free. So I went and that’s when I saw it. Contentment.

Congratulations, Mimi Cheko!