SOME SATURDAY THOUGHTS

I WAS THINKING ABOUT MY WORK DAYS. I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF DIRECTING A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM WITH A STAFF SECOND TO NONE. IT WAS A PERIOD OF ABOUT TEN YEARS OUT OF A 25 YR. CAREER. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF ABOUT 13 OF US. FOUR WERE IN PREVENTION, MAINLY WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS. COUNSELORS WERE A MIXTURE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE CERTIFICATES TO BACHELOR'S AND MASTERS DEGREES. IT WAS A GROUP THAT YOU COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON. HIGHLY DEDICATED. EASY TO MANAGE. ALL I HAD TO DO WAS STAY OUT OF THE WAY. ONE OF MY FIRST HIRES WAS CAROLYN. SHE DID MOST OF OUR PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR WOMEN. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH CAROLYN WAS GETTING HER TO NOT WORK SO MUCH. A HORRIBLE DILEMMA FOR A MANAGER. SHE IS ONE OF THE FINEST PERSONS THAT I HAVE EVER KNOWN. SHE EVENTUALLY EARNED HER MASTERS DEGREE.TERRY AND I WORKED TOGETHER ON A MENTAL HEALTH UNIT THAT THE AGENCY OPERATED. I EVENTUALLY HIRED TERRY FOR AN ADOLESCENT PROGRAM WE STARTED. WE WORKED TOGETHER FOR PROBABLY 12 YRS OR SO. TERRY WOULD GIVE IT HIS ALL. I DON'T RECALL EVER HAVING ANY ISSUES WITH TERRY. WE BECAME FRIENDS AND REMAIN SO. I TRAINED 3 WOMEN TO TAKE THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TEST TO BECOME COUNSELORS. VICKI, CONNIE, AND PAT. ALL BECAME EXCELLENT COUNSELORS. DEDICATED, RELIABLE, AND CARING BEYOND WORDS. I AM PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PASS THE TEST. IT WAS A GOOD THING FOR THEM. I WAS GLAD I TOOK THE TIME. PHIL WAS A DEDICATED, HARD WORKING, EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THE STAFF. PHIL CAME ON PRETTY EARLY. PHIL TOOK MY PLACE WHEN I LEFT. LAST I KNEW, HE WAS WORKING FOR THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND, IF THE TRUTH WERE KNOWN, KEEPING THE PROGRAM TOGETHER WAS THE OFFICE MANAGER, MARION. SHE WAS THE GLUE THAT KEEP IT TOGETHER. COULDN'T ASK FOR BETTER HELP. EFFICIENT AND GOOD WITH THE PUBLIC. AND A TRULY NICE PERSON. ANYWAY, THAT WAS THE GROUP. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL. MADE BEING A BOSS EASY.