It was written in the stars, our paths had to cross!
I have a couple of very special friends and will tell you about one of them and how we met by chance!
None of my friends are from the same mold, each one an absolute individual; mostly free spirits who all help me see the world from many angles!
My very special old long-time friend - I cannot say old as that she is not; could have been my daughter...ahem...came to visit and brought her new furry friend, a rescue dog, with.
I had not seen much of her of late so it's a real treat when we get together and reminisce on what was and what still is to be. We both looove talking, and both being Geminis, we can jump from one topic, and emotion, to the next; but talk we will do, and both also believe in walking the talk; no half measures and both suffer from OCD!
Many moons ago, Josh was the learner draughtswoman and it was my job to train her; we very soon knew we'd found a kindred spirit.
The field of CAD (computer-aided design) was still in its infancy, and my computer knowledge was very limited.
I 'grew up' with hand-draughting, so when we started plotting using a WANG computer, it was kind of amazing! Josh likely was still at school back then, but I can remember us standing around that computer that worked miracles.
I have to show you what the land surveyors' calculators looked like when I first started work. It was about the size of an old-fashioned typewriter if anyone has ever seen one of those in the movies and had to be wound up to get an answer!
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
My young learner was is a smart cookie and was highly computer literate so we complemented each other really well, and in the end, actually learned from each other!
The bond grew stronger, and when she was retrenched from the small family-owned land surveying firm we worked for, we were both heartbroken. It was difficult to find work in that field as it was quite specialized and there were not many job opportunities.
She went on to work for consulting engineers until a couple of years later when six posts were advertised for our local municipality's Survey Department. We both applied, as things were still not looking rosy for the firm I worked for, and they had to cut back on staff once again.
The rule is last in, first out, and the other draughtsperson I worked with, was given his retrenchment letter.
My friend was offered a position right away, and although I was unsuccessful at first because of the politics of our country, I received a miracle call and was offered the last of the six posts a week before Christmas, as someone turned down the job offer.
It was the best Christmas present anyone could have given me, and my friend as well!
We all won, as the company withdrew the retrenchment of the guy I worked with, and all had much to celebrate that Christmas!
My special friend and I ended up working in the same section of the Survey Department, and also ended up sitting next to each other in a large office of draughtsmen and women!
This is the old St John's Ambulance building right across the road from where we worked, but today it's a travel agency.
Being a sharp cookie, my young friend went on to study part-time, and whereas we both ended up working in the GIS (Geographical Information Services) Department, she branched into the field of town planning, and is doing very well there!
We still giggle and laugh together, especially when we remember some of the crazy fun times we had together.
SO I still say, it was written in the stars that our paths crossed. She sees me as her special angel, and I say the same of her.
Wisdom does not really come with age; some are simply born with it, an old soul for sure, who has guided me with her amazing insight!
Was it written in the stars? I believe it was indeed!
