Not Offended at All

Two short days left to go in my current job before I move on to a new challenge.  I'm sure I will enjoy the change, but the imminent, inevitable parting from my team and my project has me a bit sad the last few days.  I will be leaving:

- the most difficult project I have ever managed.   There were days I was so stressed, it felt like my hair was standing on end for 8 or 10 or 12 hours straight.  But there were rewards, and goals reached, and skills learned.  I have gained incredible knowledge technically, managerially, and personally.

- the best boss I've ever worked for.  He's not technically my boss anymore but he still oversees the project. He was tough most of the time, demanding all the time, but if you asked me a year ago if anyone could help me overcome my fear of giving presentations to large groups, I'd have laughed at you.  He did that for me, though, and so much more.   

- a team that I really, really love working with. There were so many different backgrounds and personalities but we all genuinely respect each other.  I know a lot of people resent diversity, especially when it includes people brought here from "offshore," but I have only gained from knowing them.  I love them, really, and feel blessed for having had the opportunity to work with them. 

So people have been dropping by my desk frequently this week, asking "how many more days?" and "are you nervous?" and "what are you going to be doing?" and I've gotten used to the interruptions and distractions.  Today, one of our on-site contractors, who hails from India, called and asked if he could stop by to talk to me for a minute.  His initials are NN, and following those letters is the most wonderful collection of musical sounds I've ever heard a name sound like.  Anyway, it went like this.

NN:  So, you are leaving in a few days?

Me:  Yes, Friday will be my last day in the department.

NN.  I will miss you very much.  I have this . . . art /making the shape of a square about 12x12 with his hands/ . . . from my country.  It shows one of my country's gods.  He is like an elephant?

Me:  Ganesha? 

NN:  /excitedly, eyes wide open/ You know Ganesha?

Me:  Yes!  I know Ganesha.

NN:  I would like to give you this Ganesha tomorrow, if you would not be offended.  He removes all obstacles.  I would like to give him to you for your new job.  You would not be offended?

Me:  Of course not, Nxxxxxxxxx.  I would be very thankful. /my eyes welled up completely, noticeably./  You're going to make me cry.

He reached out a hand as if to shake mine, and I put my right hand forward to shake his.  He took my hand in both of his, held it for a minute, bowed slightly to me, and said, "I will come to give you Ganesha tomorrow, OK?"

I nodded, not a bit ashamed of the tear that overflowed and rolled down my cheek. I smiled at him, and he left.

No, Nxxxxxxxx.  Not offended at all.

Honored, humbled, appreciative, thankful, blessed. 

Comments

[Jett]

Beautiful.

[ralph]

That's so sweet. Just make sure he doesn't give you Shiva, destroyer of worlds. :-)

(Back in the 1980s, a department I worked for at AT&T named its machines after Indian gods. I was always nervous about putting files on shiva, destroyer of files....)

[chrisie]

awesome!!!!!

[Shamrock]

CHRISIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chrisie was here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How you be, girl?