Hello all, by Greg

So, from 20 hits on April 30 to 43 on the May 1 to 114 on May 2nd to and 125 already this morning. Thanks to Robert’s advertising. His emails have a long reach! That is good. He comments below that he won’t be changing but that he does regret some of the things he has said. That’s cool. The main problem is that I believe that some attribute his strategy to all who agree with his goal of removing Joe from office. That is not cool.

Von thinks my May 1 blog was whiny and I have to agree. My good friend “Ol Hoss” tells me to retire and get out of this mess. A new member, Semper Fi, tells me to hang in there and makes some great points. Wendy points out things don’t change much. All well taken. Thank you.

I have given two weeks notice at work. God, I hated doing that and it is with regret and even guilt that I cannot keep the commitment I made. But I do not like the person I turn into doing this work. I have been tired, distracted and impatient with those I love and respect. It cannot keep on. Yesterday after I left work I went up to the top of Popcorn Hill in the west hills of Salem. A good friend of mine owns a beautiful home overlooking the Willamette Valley and the foothills of the Cascades. I sat with him and his wife and reminded myself that much of life is good still.

I have struggled with whether to post about an incident at work yesterday. I worry that by going this public with it, that I am being the person I don’t like. However, although I am not committed until I hit the “save” button, I think others should know about this.

What happened is a sad commentary on how people change under great stress and how we get entrenched and unable to see the light for the day.

I was getting ready to leave for a work site meeting. I was running a little late as usual and I needed to get a largish plastic box filled with union t-shirts and bling to my car. It was too large and heavy for me to handle while getting around with my cane so I looked for someone to help me with it. The only people around were two women with bad backs so I walked to the hall way to find someone who was physically able.

Around the corner stood Joe. He was talking with the support staff assigned to assist him. I waited until he had finished his conversation and he finally acknowledged me. I said,"Just the man I want to see. Could you give me a hand?”

“Yes,” he said.

I said, “I need help getting a box downstairs.”

He then said he could not help, that he had a meeting with Dr. Jim (Greer, our Chief Financial Officer.)

Now we were talking about a task that would require about a 60 second detour from the route to Jim’s office. My anger flared. I said “Thanks a lot.” and left off the name I wanted to call him but I suspect it was in my tone of voice.

It could have ended there. Just then Andrew from the external organizing team walked by and he helped me get the box out to the car. But I had forgotten to grab a folder with some materials I needed for the meeting so I walked back in the building. The front entrance opens into a small entry way and then a hall going straight past some office equipment on the right which includes a copier. Dr. Jim was standing there making copies. A few strides past the copier is the entrance to Jim’s office and I realized I would not be interrupting anything so I walked to the office and stuck my head in. Joe was sitting there on the right in a chair quite close to the door.

I said, “Thanks, Joe. You’ll be reading about this,” and turned and walked away. Joe got up from his chair saying, “What did you want me to do, drop everything just to help you?” or something very close to that. I was probably ten feet away when I heard that and I turned around, walking back towards him.

I said, “Yes, I did expect you to help a disabled person take a box down the stairs.”

The only thing I then heard was Joe say “Get out of my f*$#ing face.”

Jim, who is about 6″4′, 280 pounds, with a Harley Davidson shirt on and a braided pony tail down to the middle of his back, (he ain’t your typical accountant),was standing there and I guess he heard the f bomb three times. Loud. There was a member with her spouse and I think a small child and an infant at the counter signing up for health insurance who were forced to witness this. I apologized to them on my way out and went on to my meeting.

Now, it is truly sad. Joe, a year ago, I am sure would have helped me. I don’t know his motives for deciding not to. I doubt the urgency of the meeting with Dr. Jim was the reason. I speculate that he may have thought it would have been too menial a task for someone in his position. Maybe he refused because of my own opposition to his desire to be paid in excess of $100,000 of overtime from our union dues. I don’t know.

But I can’t help but ask, what happens to change a man so much? This includes me. I intentionally attempted to aggravate Joe. I can defend this as standing up to a bully or doing it for others. But it was a decision I made. I don’t like that person.

We are now planning to head into the Cascades at the end of May and enjoy Oregon and ourselves. I will finally feel retired. Others will fight these fights and I will continue to be involved to a lesser degree as a retiree member. I apologize to those whose work load will be increased by my decision. But that person who did what I did has to change.

Greg