One strange bird

More about my co worker whom I discussed last week.

Well, she's not asking probing questions about my upbringing and her respect for my boundaries is better than it was two weeks ago. But she's still a very strange bird.

Yesterday afternoon I asked if she enjoyed her weekend. She mentioned she had bought some vintage toy cars of some make (not Matchbox). I didn't recognize the brand. She was shocked and asked if I ever played any normal games as a child. OK, maybe her boundaries are just as lousy as ever. I assured her I did, I just don't recall makes of toy cars that me and my friend Dickie used when we played "Crash Up City". I think I put her mind at ease and she went on to talk about how she likes to collect toys and mementos from her childhood as she takes comfort being surrounded by such objects. I asked if she shops ebay or goes to collector conventions. She said she would never do anything like that. She'll buy these old toys when she's out and about shopping in her community.

This morning when I came in I greeted her, as I do everyone, with a polite and friendly "good morning". She remarked that I'm always "chipper". I never heard that before. I was bemused. She thought I was hurt and insulted and apologized profusely. I told I wasn't insulted and she should stop beating herself up. She told me she must beat herself up because she shouldn't be going around hurting sensitive people like myself because I didn't come from a rough and tumble family like hers where people express their love for one another by razzing each other.

OK. I spent much of the rest of the days connected to my ipod as I can only take so much weirdness.

Good thing I did. Later in the afternoon I emerged from ipod land. My coworker asked me what time it was. I answered. She noticed I never wear a watch and wonder how I keep track of time. I told her that for years my co workers in New York wondered how I was able to get back from lunch within my allotted hour. I guess I have a gift to keep track of time without help. She said I possess a "rainman" skill and she's convinced everyone has a "rainman" skill and proceeded to discuss how she's able to put babies to sleep. A few minutes later she apologized for comparing me to rainman and said she didn't mean to hurt me. I told her no need to apologize for comparing me to a movie that won a Best Picture Oscar-- a winner is a winner. She looked at me incomprehensibly. Though she considers me emotionally fragile, I must intimidate her on some level. I hope that's true.

AT the end of the day, she had a public sitdown with her supervisor and complained how unhappy she is at the Guild. Her supervisor seemed exasperated to have to deal with this at the end of the day. Maybe she'll take the initiative and go find a job where she'll be happier because right now, despite her bravado, she seems miserable. It's never too late to overhaul your life if you can summon the will (or alternately, the tenacity if circumstances take charge of the life overhaul).