Losing a Co-Worker

What was supposed to be a great, romantic, relaxing day turned out to be a horribly sad, tragic, emotional one. On Monday June 15, my 8th wedding anniversary, my day started with a phone call informing me that our office manager at the Rec. Dept had passed away suddenly.

If you know anything about Effingham County Recreation and Parks, you know Jacan Brown. She worked there for 24 years. She was a fixture, LITERALLY, in the office. She told it like it was, didn't take ANY crap from ANYONE, loved to laugh and joke, and chit chat until she was blue in the face. She was the backbone of the office. She knew everybody, and everybody knew her.

What was once a loud, never a dull moment, boisterious office is now somber, mum and monotone. The worst part for me was seeing my co-workers - masculine, tough, manly men - tear up when we discussed arrangements and memorial plans. These goof balls; joksters; reduced to tears at an instant, and at any given moment. One minute we're laughing, talking about Jacan. And the next minute, tears are flowing. It's only Wednesday, and everyone is emotionally drained. Tired. Sad. Frustrated. Baffled. Anxious. Anxious to see what the future holds for the office. Who will replace her? What will we do until then? Will ever be the same? That's the one question we all know the answer to already. NO. But everything happens for a reason. I have to trust in that, and try to convince my co-workers of that too..I can already tell, though, that we are already closer because of this tragedy. Whether this same crew sticks together here at the Rec. Dept. for years to come or not, we are now bonded together by this one emotional,sad, yet precious life event. Maybe Jacan's death will in fact serve a greater purpose for those she left behind........Rest in peace Jacan :)