I spoke yesterday with Joe, the retired office manager with whom I worked at the New York Times Syndicate. His mother died recently and they had been very close and I called to offer my condolences. He said he had finally gone to visit with Susan, another colleague about whom I have written as she and her husband visited a year ago. Going into Manhattan to see Susan had been a big deal for Joe because he hates to leave Brooklyn so getting him down here for a visit is worse than pulling teeth. Also he has three cats and “no one else has ever taken care of them.” I’m not holding my breath.

Joe imparted a bit of news that was shocking. A woman we worked with, Pat, had died and she was only 53. She had been under treatment for cancer, but what killed her was cardiac arrest. She was overweight and smoked heavily. Pat was very political at the company and had protectors in high places. She was ingratiating to the important and mentoring to her subordinates, so "everyone" loved her. Those who were not important to her in some way, got the short end of the stick, treated without respect and undermined when possible. I was one of these.

Examples: One of our co-workers was having a baby and was being given a shower way out on Long Island, making it a lengthy day trip. I was in Pat’s office where she was chatting with her subordinate groupies, and the subject of spending the night came up. I asked if there was room for me and she said no, making very little effort to hide her thought that I was not worthy (and also over the hill compared to this foxy group). I said okay, fine, and turned to leave and her groupies snickered because Pat had made a face behind my back. I regret not telling them that I thought they were in deep shit if Pat was their role model. Pat had the ability to make you think she was your friend and before I knew her true nature, I used to share a confidence now and then. She made sure that my thoughts were divulged where they would do the most harm. Relationships and efforts I made would suddenly go wrong and I would wonder what happened. I eventually realized the problem was talking to Pat.

Meanwhile, a guy she worked for retired to Florida some years ago and I had liked him a lot. So I tried to look him up and he is unlisted although Intelius will charge me an introductory ninety-five cents for his information, but bill me $19.95 a month afterward unless I cancel. That is too much trouble. He will have to go uninformed.

**

Elsewise, our pool deck is under construction, beginning to look really nice. The coping goes on today. That is the most difficult part. The shutters that had been removed have to be reinstalled. There will be some pavers laid under the outdoor shower just outside the pool cage. These guys are working really hard. The cats are banned from the deck while they are here and Max is even more than usually antsy because he has to be everywhere at once. I let the little darlings out early this morning to get their adventure fix before the workers showed up. There is plastic protecting the perimeter of the pool where the workers cemented the edges. Some of the plastic trails in the water. Brunswick decided he could walk on this and put out a tentative paw. Woops, no support. Yikes. He ran back to the house like someone was after him. And the water was cold because the temp has dropped again and there is a big wind. I wiped his paw and explained to him that, no, he couldn’t walk on water.

Finally, no sympathy needed. I am so not mourning.

xx, Teal