Page 35 - Lifes Outtakes 10

phone calls and visits from the

department members.

Dave, one of the more senior

members of the department, always

said, “We are family.” I didn’t

realize how significant this was until

a particular event that occurred a few

years after my hire.

Gordon, who was in his early

fifties when I was hired, was one of

the members of our department who

had been there the longest, despite his

relatively young age. I had only been

there three years when he approached

me.

“Daris,” he said, “I would like

you to take over heading the