Where I’m At, Part 2
Goodbye is inherently a junction, simultaneous looking back and stepping forward. Indulge me as I share a goodbye to Mass Audubon where I’ve been employed for 19 years. It has been an out-of-the-park, mutually beneficial partnership. I am grateful for these years.
I worked in ‘the engine room’ not directly with our public-facing wildlife sanctuaries. I created and maintained systems that helped the operations engine run better, faster, smoother. I was a nexus: sitting in the development department and working closely with IT, membership and the business office staff. When something got gunked up, I helped troubleshoot and (hopefully) figured out how to fix the thing. I pulled ‘boring but important’ reports from the machine that gave us a view on how we were doing with our many non-boring initiatives. Here are some of my current favorites Nature in the City, Camp for All Pricing, Resilient Lands, and Protecting Birds & Wildlife.
I’ve taken many photos over the years of the nearby gorgeous towns of Lincoln, Concord, and Sudbury explored during lunch breaks. But the photos offered here are rare, interior office views. More words and pictures than usual, I thank you for your time and eyeballs
Meet the office, Gordon Hall–A grand country home estate built in 1914. Since post pandemic, the interior has steadily been getting refreshed. Imagine if you will, all white walls that you see here as dark brown wood –same beautiful brown wood as the banisters and trim.
At first I was horrified that all of that wood was going to painted. But we fully acclimated. It is so much brighter and less gloomy. The beauty of the woodwork is preserved and, if possible, made more visible.
Walking up the grand stairs deposits you in front of the Gordon Hall Conference Room, in the early days the place for a drop-in, half-hour lunch time for anyone available. The place where questions such as, What was your gateway bird? was answered. Also, where I learned that there is no bird officially named seagull.
We’re so fancy now. Notice the screen on the top left, displaying the meeting room schedule.
Down the hall, I had my own actual office. It had a window where a gingko tree showed off in autumn:
Bonus picture of outside view:
So here I sit on my last day, coincidentally with pants that matched the sky. I’m on a metal swing that creaks a little and saying goodbye to this punctuated time of 19 years.
It’s absurdly outrageous that I got to be employed at both a smart and heart-based organization and one with a mission that is strongly intwined with my core. I’m talking about our connection to our natural world people. Look out, I feel the urge to preach, just a little.
It’s been a ride. We’ve been through some things, Mass Audubon and me. And now we part at this junction on the best of terms.
I’m looking out there, to something that is called ‘future’, a mostly imaginary place that we actively create and also do not have one ounce of control. So I’m dreaming a little, keeping my own councel and listening as details emerge at their own pace.
Bonus Epilogue
On Mass Audubon, A Heart-Based Employer
I’ll never stop being grateful that Mass Audubon does-right by employees. Especially with regard to quality health insurance offerings. Unexpectedly, I have been a high-end customer of health care in the last 19 years. They’ve negotiated hard and paid dearly for offering products that are solid options. Costs for health insurance benefits continue to scream upward for any organization, but small to mid-size companies take the biggest hit. They could have shaved huge cost and offered horrendous plans with complicated fee structures that limit allowable procedures. For both the medical human and the human patient that translates to ‘who the hell knows what any visit, medication, or procedure will cost or if be covered.’ But they didn’t go with such a plan. Instead, a few years ago they apologetically reduce the employer payment portion from 100% to 75%.
I never had to worry about quality medical access or coverage with my two major surgeries. I am lucky and grateful and grateful and lucky.
A Preaching Moment: On Our Natural World
What happens to us when we go without any water for 3 days? How about not taking in air for 3 minutes? We are of nature; that is, we are not separate from it. We can’t out run or out-engineer this. Perhaps we’ll turn into some form of sentient robot with plastic bits in our cells, but will it be as fun, rich, and rumbling?
Engage. Learn. Protect. Steward. Value. Respect. Accept Limits.
Accept the gifts of our humanity and nature.
One more picture and one question
What does one do with old business cards?
Do share ideas.
congratulations to you my dear friend! A major achievement worthy of a sermon or two. so sing it loud sister and enjoy your well-earned retirement.
Author
Thank you Jo(yce). Time vertigo! When I met you I was at the beginning of my full-time employment years. What a gift that I have you cheering me on even if from that other coast!
congratulations to you my dear friend! A major achievement worthy of a sermon or two. so sing it loud sister and enjoy your well-earned retirement.
Author
What I said above times a billion.
Congrats on this next chapter in your life — so happy for you! You can make Concentration game cards with those ol’ biz cards.
Author
Thanks for the tip! Looking forward to catching up when we we get back.
❤️❤️❤️
Author
heart heart heart my love
What a wonderful tribute to Mass Audubon, Wendy. They were so lucky to have your expertise and energy and good heart for those nineteen years. On to these next years, which I hope will be equally rewarding and interesting and fun.
Author
On to these next years! Thank you for being one of the ones that is showing me how it’s done.
Congratulations on your retirement Wendy! I loved that you shared your work place and what you loved doing for work. Such a beautiful building and surroundings! I am sure you will be missed there! I love the way you write. You have a gift! Keep on using it!
God bless your next chapter! Love ya!
Author
Thank you Julie. I appreciate your comment very much!
Such a lovely tribute piece, Wendy! Mass Audubon will be a bit less rich without your incredible wisdom. How many many many times did you save my and other colleagues’ butts with “just one little report” we needed at the last minute? Love all your pictures. Where is that swing?
And as for old business cards, I used them as flashcards when practicing vocabulary for a new language. 🙂
Author
Thank you Hank! That swing is at Codman Farm overlooking the community garden, sort of in front of the farmer’s house. This was one of my favorite re-charge places on any given work day.
Flashcards! What a great idea!
Congratulations Wendy on your retirement! How time does move along so quickly. You clearly have embraced your time at the Audubon. Hope Gracie is acclimated to all the life changes. Then again she traveled so many places here and there. Best to you in the journey ahead.
Author
Thank you Diane! Because of her well-traveled upbringing, Gracie is doing well and rolling with the punches. She trained Alisa to bring her outdoors for a daily, leisurely constitutional.