AWKWARD MOMENTS

Now that I am retired, I often reflect on special moments that occurred while I was working.  Some good, some awkward.   


INNOCENT MISTAKE - One awkward moment occurred after working late one night.  My office was on the first level, and I had forgotten that there was a board meeting on the second floor of the building. The meeting included the president and six members of his corporate board.

Anyway, about 8:00 pm I dutifully set the alarm before leaving the building and headed down route 83 toward York, PA.  Everything was fine, until one of the board members needed a drink and left the room (their meeting room didn't have a security sensor).  When he did, the alarm went off, the cops were automatically called, and one 6' 7" board member tried to run down the back stairs and hit his head on an overhead beam. I guess they thought someone was trying to break into the building.

When two of the board members reached the back door the cops were already there.  Since things were out of control at this point, the cops forced the two board members up against the building.  Within a few minutes it all got sorted out, but the call from our president to the guy headed down route 83 was, to put it mildly.......

Awkward.

EMBARRASING MISTAKE - While talking with my daughter on a cell phone a few years ago our conversation was interrupted by an incoming call from Paul Kreiger, one of our technicians.  I said to my daughter, "Tammy, I need to take another call.  I love you. Goodbye" 

Paul had some questions about a project I was working on at H.B. Reese.  I answered his questions and for a moment - I forgot it was the technician and said to him, "Paul, I have to make another call.  I love you.  Goodbye".  The technician said "OK, Larry.  Goodbye."   I said wait, I......but he had already hung up the phone.

POT BELLY PIG? - One of my favorite customers was Cross Keys Village.  Our company supplied lotsa' communications systems there, including equipment for their in-house television studio.  The Communications Coordinator was Cindy Hockensmith, and she did a great job with the daily TV program called "In Touch"  You never knew what creative idea she had coming next.  During one visit I opened the door for someone struggling to carry a pot belly pig and I asked "OK, what's with the pig?"  The answer?  "It is for Cindy's TV program."  

RIGHT ANSWER - During her TV program there is a "call in" segment - where residents are given a question and the first to call (live) with the answer gets a prize.  One day I was in the studio control room and the on-air talent gave a question.  I called the phone number, tried to disguise my voice, and gave the right answer.  Unfortunately, the talent recognized my voice and I didn't get the prize.

During the last 25 years I worked with scores of Long Term Health Care facilities. Cross Keys Village continues to be special.  Everyone there seems to go out of their way to pamper the residents.  My wife and I continue to visit their annual book sale and auction.