Several times a year, my building is in transition, and it all seems to swirl around the desk.
This is one of those times.
Skills I have the opportunity to practice during transition times:
1. Saying, “No, I don’t know where your supervisors are or where they’ve gone,” just as nicely the fiftieth time as I said it the first time.
2. Answering the phone and sounding professional while clearly talking over a staff meeting/gathering, power tool, or vacuum cleaner.
3. Taking countless breaks from getting the desk ready for opening day (i.e., my job) to have meaningless conversations with random people working in the building (see also: being nice, like I’m a human being who enjoys human interaction).
4. Welcoming change. Welcoming back old friends and making new ones. This part is nice. It’s one of my favorite things.
5. Relinquishing control. Of my surroundings, of my desk, of the noise level, of the smells wafting through the area – basically of everything I mother-hen throughout the year to make it a pleasant place to work and be. This is good for me, I’m told.
6. Explaining to concerned callers (always parents – never our actual customers) why, while I certainly understand their predicament, it is not dire enough to completely rework our schedule to better fit theirs. Basically, I’m telling them “You are not special enough to be the exception,” but in a way that is as nice the 500th time as it was the first time.
Today’s thanks:
1. I have two jobs, both of which I generally enjoy.
2. I am making serious strides on the putting-the-apartment-together.
3. I am addicted to Pinterest and have learned all sorts of new tricks that are making the apartment whimsical AND functional.
4. Fresh peaches. *loves*
5. It’s almost the weekend.
M. Suzanne Terry 
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