I went into work like any ordinary day–at least as any ordinary day could feel at a job you’ve been working at for four days–when I was greeted by a blonde woman I had never seen before.

“My name is Libby,” she said, “and I am the new director of this YMCA branch.” We had been going without a director for since the day I started. The woman who interviewed me, hired me, coordinated all my prejob screening (background check and drug testing) had mysteriously vanished the day prior to my first day of work. Well, mysteriously vanished to me. No one at the Y seemed concerned with her disappearance. Last time I spoke to her she said, “I’ll call you tomorrow to schedule your first day.” Two days later, I got a call from someone else informing me that Penny was no longer with the Y and could I come in to start that afternoon (yes, one sentence like that). I think Penny got fired, because she gave no indication that she was going to quit, but that’s not relevant to this story. Or maybe it is.

Libby and I exchanged short pleasantries before she got to the heart . . . . .