last week at work in addition to the Christmas party at lunch it was also a retirement party for one of the guys in my old department. this guy has been there for YEARS, way longer than i’ve been alive YEARS. i never really worked with him or anything, and i haven’t worked in that department for 3 years, but i knew him and he knew me. i noticed that he also had his wife and daughter there. i thought it was kind of weird, because the daughter looked about my age, and i know i probably would not have wanted to go to my mom’s work retirement party. i couldn’t stay the whole time at the retirement party, so on my way out i wished the guy who retired (GWR) congratulations and went back to my desk. later in the afternoon, i was talking to my friend, Laurin, about how weird that must have been for her. i asked “what’s her story” more because i was wondering why she would be there, nothing more than that. Laurin said the party was a big deal for GWR, so he wanted his family there, which i thought was cool.

the next morning i get to work, and i’m tired from the Hornets/Spurs game the night before, my voice is still pretty shot. i’m walking up to the gate and i see the GWR coming up the sidewalk towards me. as he got closer i asked him “is this the final exit?” he laughed and said no, he has a couple of more days. then he asks me “hey, did i introduce you to my daughter yesterday?” i told him he hadn’t, and he kind of sighed in a regretful “i wish i would have” way. then he says “well, i’ll have to send you her number.” i said “okay” thinking “oh man, really?”

i got to my desk and called Laurin and asked if she had talked to GWR about our conversation. she just laughs and says “well, i may have said something about you asking about her”. [sighs and shakes head] so that afternoon sure enough, i get an email with the daughter’s phone number. i’ve decided i’m probably going to call it, because i figure if i don’t call it, GWR will be disappointed because he knows i have the number. it may end up being the most awkward phone call in the history of the world.