You Can't Take It With You

There is life after death. There isn't much before it. I think it would be a mockery to live this life and not move on to something else, something better. I don't believe in Hell. Apply online and you will learn all there is to know about eternal damnation.

Working with an abusive supervisor felt like eternal damnation. I even used that phrase to his face. He was none too pleased. I could have spoken his praises and he would have given the same dirty look.

That job led to a period history refers to as "Rehab". I had to take time away from work. When the next position began, no one asked about the smear campaign he waged against me.

There is no permanent record. At this point I theorize "The Afterlife" is how you recall someone. They could be alive. On the current job I have seen many come and go. Some are fondly recalled and were there briefly. Others have worked for years and take up space.

The way you will be remembered is the afterlife. Do you want to be recalled as someone who complained all the time? That will lead to an eye roll and little else. Another supervisor whom I did not get along with- we worked peripherally and I mostly saw him strutting around the office- left the company.

He acted like this job was Community Service when he was asked to help out. Maybe he was paroled- I wouldn't know. For someone who built his body and did pull ups on many occasions he really did not help others lift heavy packages.

He always talked to young women. If a white woman worked near us he made like Pepe Le Pew. It showed he was interested in one thing. It's not like he socialized with everyone including younger women. He didn't talk to the male majority.

There are many in management who were concerned about their paycheck and nothing else. They were penny wise. I only recall them for being pound foolish. There are people worth romanticizing. Others leave no impression.

Sarah Elkins and I are the only ones who visited every No Longer Virtual. That leads to recollections of anyone and everyone who attended. It is nice when they come up in conversation. Mutual acquaintances are good for conversations. The other person in the conversation might mention something about the person in question that I did not know.

Many times I recall the intricacy. All jerks are the same. To elaborate on what they did- not interesting. Recalling how someone taught you something or impacted your life- the owners at the flower shop were not interesting in socializing with me.

I didn't go there to make friends. They let me do my job and that is most important. As a small business, when I told Ron, the manager in charge or ordering vases et al, he asked how urgent the order was.

If there were five boxes of rose vases- that is running low. It will need to be reordered. If it is the end of the statement cycle- ordering it today would put it on this statement which is due next month.

If you wait until the next statement cycle there are basically two months before it comes due. They paid everything in full every month. There was more time to sell arrangements where those vases were used.

This is something not taught in school. I use it every month. My statement cycle begins on the ninth of the month so if I want to make a purchase on the seventh- can it wait two days? More often than not, yes.

Lessons come from many places and many people can impact you positively. Fathers on this site post about the legacy their children will recall. Make it a good one. Yes, I recall that all adults in my era smoked cigarettes. Even in the car with children in the back seat. There are many better recollections.

The only smoker I recall had a full ashtray in his car (this was a long time ago) and when he entered the store he smelled like an ashtray. I don't recall anything else about him. Nothing in his personality was as interesting as "It smelled like he tongue kissed an ashtray."

Sometimes I come up with funny nicknames for people who otherwise are not memorable. That should not be the legacy you aspire towards. How did you make others feel? What did you teach them? Did you make others feel better?

The aforementioned Sarah talks about legacy and how someone will be remembered quite often. One of my connections from high school suggested a heavy metal themed school dance.

The teachers asked for themes and he spoke up. In our uptight school where many put their fist in the air to Bon Jovi (my classmates were so white it excused me from ever watching Friends.) there were jeers and laughter.

Hard rock and heavy metal are valid forms of music. I recalled the ridicule. I also recalled that he spoke up and made a suggestion when no one else did. That was the bridge to our current relationship.

The advantage of social media is reconnecting with many and moving the trajectory of our lives forward. It would have been enough to recall his penchant for heavy metal. It means more to have maintained a connection and continue the relationship even though we live in different areas.

You cannot control how you are remembered. You can build a legacy and hope the memories others have of you are positive. Nothing good ever dies and fond recollections of someone are always enjoyed and appreciated.