Changing of the Guard

Tuesday March 9th 2010 5:30pm

Last night, Freddy sent me a text letting me know that he was not going into the office today, and that I would have to take a cab. So, this morning when I woke up, I called Marisela and was able to get a ride with her and split the cab fare.

We got to the office around 8:30, and were immediately hustled into the conference room for a meeting. Everyone from the office was there, and Noami announced that Freddy was no longer the director of the CCD. I was shocked. She said a bunch of mumbo jumbo about Freddy having stronger talents for other things, and that his services were best met elsewhere, but really danced around telling us why Freddy was no longer the Director. She also announced to us that we would be doing a weekly devotional, where we catch up with one another, and develop stronger office bonds.

I sat down at my desk after the meeting and tried to process the fact that Freddy was no longer my supervisor. I think that while I knew that I worked for the CCD, it always felt to me as though I worked for Freddy and Marisela. People had warned me when I came in that there was a high turnover rate, and that job security wasn't very strong at the CCD, but even when Patty left, I felt like most of the people at the office were very secure in their positions.

The whole office went out to lunch, and took two hours to do so. Traffic was horrendous, but the delicious and inexpensive food that we had made up for it.

When we got back to the office, it was time for devotionals, and Edgardo led us in a brief session that took us right up until the end of the day. It was 4:00 and everyone was ready to go...except for Marisela. While Marisela has taught me a great deal of patience, I lost most of it waiting for her today.

As we all loaded into the car to head back, she jumped out and ran inside because she needed to send "one quick email that she forgot about." Five minutes later, I headed in after her, to see if there was anything I could to do help. She hadn't started on the email and was busy answering other emails. I asked her if all of these emails needed to be sent immediately, or if she could just finish the one, so that everyone who was waiting wouldn't have to keep waiting.

One by one, people filed out of the car and into the office over the next thirty minutes as we waited for Marisela. At 4:45, she said, "Ok, just one more, and I need your help to translate it into English." I implored her to reconsider sending this last email, and asked why it couldn't wait until the next day. She explained very plainly that, "It just can't."

When she asked me for one word that meant, "when the occasion arises," I tried to describe the word "opportunistically" she actually said to me, "Hurry up, everyone is waiting." To which my reply was, "You want me to hurry up?!"

By 5:00, we were finally all back in the car, when Marisela remembered that she needed to go to the bathroom. I just walked in the door, so these frustrations are fresh.

I tried to text and call Freddy throughout the day, but he never answered. I am assuming that he might just want some space for a few days, but I am eager to talk with him and see how he is doing.