My dear Carole:
What an impact you had on my life at precisely the time when I needed it! We were all suffering under the literal weight of GC, struggling to make sense of a work environment where the boss seemed to believe that the only way to make people productive was to keep them miserable. And you, Carole, with your infectious laugh and unfailing sense of humor, you kept it all human for me, made me believe I could find a happy place during a time of bleak despair. I'll never forget leaving the break room with tears in my eyes, my sides weak from laughter, still giggling. And one of my favorite stories to tell is when a man came to the front counter and told me he had come to shoot me. I went back to tell you about it, and you burst out laughing.
"No, I think he's serious," I told you.
You finally gained control enough to ask me if he had a gun. When I admitted I hadn't seen one, you made me go back up to check! So I returned to confront my announced assassin, asking him, "what did you say?"
"I said I'm going to shoot you!" he hissed back.
"Well," I stammered, "uh, my boss wants to know if you have a gun."
"I have this," he sneered, pulling a single bullet from his pocket.
When I went back to tell you that he didn't have a gun but he had a bullet, you almost fell down, you were laughing so hard. I finally convinced you we needed to call the cops, and then, as we were all getting "out of the line of fire" as the police dispatcher said, Agnes hung up the phone and announced to the room, "My sister is listening to the police scanner and they say there's a man in the office with a gun!"
"Agnes!" you snapped at her, "shut up and get over here."
Agnes took in the whole office huddled against one wall, and her eyes went wide and she scampered over to hide with us. Seconds later the cops burst in and took down the suspect, who they later released because, in their words, "oh, he's just crazy."
Joyce was furious because we'd left her up front in the cashier booth, not knowing how to tell her without the crazy guy finding out.
And then GC walked in with a rolled up magazine--the whole time he had been in the men's room. He was furious that he'd missed out on what he considered to be a military mission, and told me later that no matter what happened, no one was ever to call the police but him. Ever. I asked him what about if one of the employees shot him, would he make an exception, and he just glowered at me.
When I think of my time at GMAC Muskegon, you are always there, Carole. I don't think I could have made it without you, I really don't.
Our lives moved on, the geography and the clock worked against us, and I last saw you several years ago. Doug was still with us, and we had a glorious day in Grand Haven. Joanie, Mary, Bonnie, Donnie, Art--I need to pull out those pictures again, see if I've forgotten anyone. But I'll never forget you, or the huge favor you did for me, helping me cope with some tough times, being there for me, for all of us. I love you and miss you, Carole. -- Bruce
