The organization I work for has people spread out over three buildings in the Fan area of Richmond. My building has 10 people, the building at the other end of our block has seven people and then the third or main building has a bunch of people but still no more than 30. The main building is several blocks away and I end up over at that building at least once a week.
I think there was some bad mojo circulating when this building opened and people were sent over here. At the time, it was a bit of a punishment to be thrown out to the far reaches of campus. Honestly, though, ours is the nicest building: bright, sunny, spacious and what a courtyard and backyard.
I have friends in the main building and in the one down the street. The people in my building are a bit territorial and, frankly, a bit snobby about who we should socialize with. I’ve been trying for weeks to have lunch with someone who used to work in my building but moved over to the main building. Our schedules keep conflicting. We were supposed to have lunch today but something came up for her so she suggested Thursday. Thursday is the day the Greek Festival starts and we had the Greek Festival as an agenda item at a recent unit meeting. Lunch is important to us. Anyway, it was decided we’d go to the Greek Festival as a large group on Thursday. I invited my sometime lunch buddy.
Remember that bit about the snobby? I haven’t told anyone in my building that this other person is coming with us. I had the perfect opportunity to do so yesterday in the car on the way to pick up lunch. We were talking about lunch and one person remembered she has a thing at her child’s school at lunchtime on Thursday. We had to change our trip to the festival to Friday. I didn’t think it was good to broach the subject of having this other person join us for lunch when I was trapped in the back seat of the car. The better-half said I was a chicken. That’s true. I don’t know why the animosity exists but I have ties to people in all the buildings and my co-workers need to understand that and, frankly, get over it.
At least we’ll be sitting outside at the Greek Festival with good food and live music and the chances of cattiness breaking out will be minimized.
I have no idea how I came across this site, but for some reason after reading this post, I just had to keep reading. You sarcasim is just great that it actually made me laugh today. Thanks, and great post!
Michael H.
Festivals are the best part of this time of year. And I love Greek food! Hopefully they’ll drown them selves in baklava and not even notice your friend is there!