Me and My Shadow
Posted by Amy Jones on May 2, 2007 - 11:24 AM
There’s someone gunning for my job. And not in an oh-I-wish-I-had-a-cool-job-like-yours way either. I think he wants to replace me. And I’m starting to get concerned.
He shows up at all of our events, usually offering to help. He volunteers for everything and is constantly turning on the charm around our board members. For example, this weekend he showed up at the volkswalk at Griffith Prairie, chatted up the guests and ran errands for the organizers. He finished walking the 5K just in time to join the group of volunteers that had gathered to build fence. Riding to the work site with our board president he stopped at my van to make sure the president picked up a document I promised to deliver to him that day (which I had since forgotten).
When I left the volkswalk to enjoy a soccer game and lunch he stayed and worked. Upon noticing an unfamiliar vehicle in the farmyard he approached the visitors and asked if there was anything he could do for them. Not immediately convinced by their story he stuck around to learn more. Meanwhile I sat in town eating a sandwich.
Following a long day of fencing he insisted on helping me set up the Prairie Plains display at the spring FAMFest event. It’s getting so every time I turn around he’s there, helping me with my job.
Sunday afternoon was the last straw. He convinced my husband to spend the day mowing the Prairie Plains property at Lincoln Creek. They mowed and trimmed trees and left the place fit for the cover of a magazine, laughing and talking the whole time.
It’s part of our mission to include people in the process and involve everyone that’s interested, but this guy is over the top. Even Bill and Jan have started to refer to him as the apprentice. He comes off as being so sweet and sincere, and I have to admit he does seem to appreciate the mission. But his boundless energy is wearing me out. When he works I feel like I should be there. And when I work he always shows up.
Now that I think of it, maybe he’ll skip right over me. If he ends up running the Institute when Bill retires I won’t be surprised.
Have I mentioned yet that he’s my 9-year-old son?
When he takes over I hope he lets me keep my job.
