Saturday, September 29, 2007

Loss of a Colleague

It has been a few weeks since EKU Libraries lost a staff member. Sylvia Genest worked as the Team Leader for Catalog Maintenance. Not only was she good at her job but she was an outstanding person. I have never worked in a place where someone has passed away and so this was a totally new experience for me. Sylvia's passing was completely unexpected and shocking. I think that most of just did not know what to say or do for quite a while. I do want to share a story about Sylvia that I thought speaks directly to Sylvia's kindness and thoughtfulness.
I had my daughter DC in March of 2005. I returned to work at EKU in June and was having a difficult time making the transition back into the work world after being on maternity leave for 3 months. I had not had such a hard time after having TPG so it was a shock to me that I was having such a hard time. I just could not seem to get back in the game. Just a few days after returning to work, Sylvia brought me a little plastic bag and it contained a cute little pair children's sneakers. She said she had seen them at a yard sale over the weekend and just knew DC had to have them. Sylvia and I did not work in the same department and did not really work that closely together. Sylvia's personal life was a full and rich one filled with many family members. The fact that she thought of me and my daughter was so touching. This simple little gift was exactly what I needed to help me through whatever moment I was having.

I went home immediately and put the little shoes on DC. Of course, they were WAY TOO BIG but I had to take a picture of them for Sylvia. This picture hung in Sylvia's cubicle for quite some time. Sometimes I would find myself walking out of my way past Sylvia's desk just so I could spot a picture of my daughter.
Thank you Sylvia for your kind gift. You will be missed.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Scared of Clowns?

I need your help to win an argument with my husband. In the Lexington Herald Leader today (9/7/2007) there is a photo and short piece about a clown convention in town this weekend. I made the comment to TTG that a clown convention was probably many people's worst nightmare. He said that I was the only person he know who was freaked by clowns. I just don't believe that is true. I think there a tons of people that are freaked by clowns. I mean, come on, clowns are about as creepy as they get. So, back me up here. Ask your friends and family and then comment back to me about clown fears. I know there are more of you out there. I need your support. If you are not freaked by clowns, click on this link and tell me that you are not scared. Good Lord, the picture will give you nightmares for weeks.