Friday, February 20, 2009

Thank You and Happy Birthday

I have adopted every person I know as a personal secretary. Traci Monson happens to be my Executive Assistant and for the last 10 years has kept record of most of my personal engagements. She reminds me of dates, times and most importantly memorizes directions to venues and passes them on to me as I am en route.

(Pictured are myself and Traci. This is in Boston where she of course, made all travel arrangements, and paid for my ticket. What?! I didn't have a job at the time)


Since I am old-er I have trained myself to memorize information regarding soirees to a close degree of accuracy. I almost always get the date correct, arrive within plus or minus 30 minutes to start time and can recall the location within a three block radius. Therefore, I have needed Traci's help less and less as the years have passed but occasionally am saved by her incomprehensible ability to plan, organize and regurgitate data that, I swear, was stolen from my hand. I hope to one day return the gesture she has so kindly offered to me a million times.




Sometimes I am invited to a function by a social circle that has not the privilege of knowing Traci. And I, finding myself in need of logistical info, wonder if she still might know where I am supposed to be. I am in such a situation tonight. Knowing that even this Super Woman does not know the answer, I turn to other sources, like the focal point of this evening. IT happens to be her birthday, and is just as unreliable as myself.
(Pictured below is Stephanie Doyle in a fantastic attempt to snowboard)
(This is what she looks like, with a helmet on)
I have called her twice and sent a text message (5 minutes before the party is to start) and still no response. What?! Am I left to getting on-line and finding the original invitation?! Work?! THEN! The phone rings, lo and behold, the caller ID reads "Steph Doyle" and I answer with excitement,

*"Birthday Girl?! What is wrong with you? You know I need help getting to your place?"



*This is not the birthday girl, it's Aly!"

The conversation went on but I got stuck in the humorous thoughts that a) Steph is just like me and has someone else dealing with the awful boringness of flat information and b) Once again, I am saved from my annoying habit of zero preparation.

Each of you at one point has aided, or enabled, me in such a situation. I thank you.
(Among many other talents, Steph is also an artist, and felt this represented the lonliness that metals must feel)

3 comments:

Kassie said...

haaa ha. you kill me with humor.

steph doyle said...

HA HA! I am laughing so hard... mostly because I totally relate and because its so true! Its been a long time (too long) since we've had any great adventures together - where we have to hitchhike, makeshift snowboard/sled, deal with cancer, or party with people we don't know... YOU ARE SUCH A 9. Thanks for your friendshipness.

Traci said...

If only I could remember where I am supposed to be all the time! All of this remembering for you is robbing me of my memory! :) I will for as long as I can still remind you of dates and times! Love you!