For years, the company I worked for held an annual company picnic for employees and their families. They got away from it in more recent years, thanks to COVID.
Last week, my company held an in person company picnic in a local park.
Many of us still work remotely, either full or part of the time. I am happy that the work I do permitted that option. My son has been in his workplace from day one of COVID, and my spouse, if he hadn't retired, also had a job that had to be done in person.
I don't know the number, but enough of us hadn't see each other in person since mid March of 2020. Some of them I have seen in online meetings. Some I've seen around town. Others I hadn't seen at all.
I never thought it would be like this. We had been sent home "for two weeks", after all.
Who could see into the future?
Some people had gained weight in those almost two and a half years. Some people had lost weight. Some people had a lot more gray hair than the last time I had seen them. For many of them, I
don't know what their personal struggles and joys have been since the day I was sent home in mid March. More than one of them had retired in the intervening years, and their absence was noted by those who worked closely with them.
Some of us sat together and ate. Others played games.
Once again we saw spouses of our co workers. We met some of their children and grandchildren, and (in one case) a parent. Several people brought their dogs.
We sent phones around with photos. We circulated, saying hi to people we used to pass in the hall or talk to at the water fountain. People air hugged and real-hugged.
Memories flooded back, but not always. In some cases, I had trouble remembering people's names, and I wasn't the only one.
But, other memories were as fresh as the day they happened.
What a long, strange two weeks it has been.
But, whatever happens in the coming weeks and months, we were able to get together for a handful of hours. We have those memories.
No one will be able to take that away from us.
...I always worked for myself outdoors!
ReplyDeleteIt’s been a long, strange journey, hasn’t it? But it sounds like the picnic was a success.
ReplyDeleteThis one touched me in a special way. Nostalgic. Carol C
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to be able to spend time with work friends once again.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost like we've stepped out into a new and vastly different world. I'm so glad you have this memory to overlay those intervening 'two weeks'!
ReplyDeleteIt's so refreshing to be able to get back to even a few of the events we'd given up for so long. I'm glad you have these new memories.
ReplyDeleteI bet it was great to see everyone. A strange two weeks, indeed. Do you think you'll ever go back into the office, or are they keeping the remote workers remote for the foreseeable future?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you all were able to do this. Here, many employees in IT jobs are still unwilling to go back to the office because they've realized it can be easier and cheaper to work from home! I'm not sure what that does for morale and team building though.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great way to begin working part time back in the office.
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