Erin, our fabulous BeadStyle assistant, just announced that she'll be leaving for another job next week. It's a great opportunity, but we'll all miss her. I could say she's fun and organized and good at her job — all of those things are true. But here are some of the qualities that I'll miss most.
10. Going the distance: Erin bought supplies and will shoot photos
for her story assignment (which isn't due until long after she's gone). Someone else
would've just foisted the story on one of us!
9. Appreciation for books: I'll miss our talks about favorites like Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Glass Castle. Erin is also generous about lending books to friends.
8. Enthusiasm: She says "thank you" after being asked to do something — as if tasks are opportunities. For example:
"Can you make folders for the January issue?"
"I'll do that this afternoon. Thanks!"
7. Empathy: She has listened to many a story, nodded her head, and said, "Too soon." Nothing seems to faze her.
6. Charity: She's growing her hair out for Locks of Love and is helping me stay motivated to do the same. (This photo was taken last month to chart our progress.)
5. Peppiness: She often carries a tune in her head — and beyond — like "Jingle Bell Rock." It's not just for the holidays.
4. Down to earth-ness: Her friends are important to her, but she has also been
known to stay in on a Friday night, crafting and sobbing to Love Actually.
3. Open-mindedness: Though Erin is a huge Brett Favre fan, she emails me photos of Aaron Rodgers that her Uncle Pat took. She's also a Harry Potter fan but doesn't try to foist the Harryness on me.
2. Ability to prioritize: She doesn't love sweets but will accompany me on an emergency donut run, treating the trip with the reverence it deserves.
1. Loyalty: Who else leaves a staff meeting and says, "Go, team!"? (And no, this wasn't after a team-building exercise.)
There's lots to miss about Erin! If you have a favorite story about her, we'd love to hear it — feel free to post a comment.