A Bhan Shith is gone.
She turned in her notice suddenly - a medical condition which perhaps was expected but never mentioned by her. It's a shock - both from the suddenness of the event and the departure.
Suddenness of the event? We are a people who are accustomed to having the time and luxury to say goodbye to those moving on. We like to have the time to discuss, to chat, to exchange goodbyes and memories. Her departure reminds me, at least, that we can never presume upon those who we care about being there to say words to in our own time - sometimes, life intervenes so quickly our words are robbed from us, trapped in our minds unsaid.
Her departure leaves a hole. She was one of those coworkers of whom you could easily hope of all the people you might wish to move on, she would not be one. She was always happy, always smiling - as An Ghearmailtnach said, "She was always someone who would come into a room, say things that would make you laugh and the then leave with a smile on her face and laughter on yours." She had the gift of making burdens easier to bear, not more difficult.
Her work? Wonderful. She was invested in what she did and was one of those to whom it could be applied "Thinking out of the box". She innovated instead of accepting the norm - but again, always with a smile and joy as she related why such and such a thing should make statistical sense.
Her presence will be sorely missed.
Even in leaving, she was self effacing in her manner: no fanfare, no excessive pity over her condition - in fact, leaving on a positive note of hope for a cure - just the simple professionalism of someone who knew the scope of what she faces and was preparing to face it with dignity and hope.
I walked by her cube afterwards to see what, if anything, needed to be replaced or moved. All I felt was a vast hole which used to be filled by someone of joy.
Even though our paths tended to cross not so often as I would have liked, I still find the world a smaller place today as I walk out the door. Not just because a bright light of joy will not be present - instead, the greater reminder burns into my brain:
Our time is limited. That which we assume will be present forever may not be there tomorrow.
What are leaving unsaid or undone?
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