Random Acts of EWM Kindness

Over the years I’ve had an opportunity to work with quite a few people at EWM. When I think about various encounters with them, my most vivid memories are of kindnesses given freely to me. At the time, some acts seemed small and simple. Others more complicated. Looking back now, they were all significant, all incredibly meaningful and comforting.

I’m going to name names. The problem with this is I know I can’t possibly fit everybody in this one blog. That’s okay. Please just think of this as a good start. Here we go — in no particular order:

Blanca Bruguera – More than ten years ago I worked in the Gables office. Late one afternoon, when it was time to go home, the heavens opened up and there was a torrential downpour. Blanca caught me as I was about to walk out with no umbrella. She wrapped me up in a big plastic bag, fashioning a make-shift raincoat. It felt so good, like mom taking care of me.

Lilia Ana Lopez – Also several years ago at the Gables office, a bunch of us decided to try to learn Spanish. So we came in early a couple of days each week, employed the services of a teacher — I forget her name — and began our studies. We were advised to practice our Spanish as often as we could. Lilia Ana, who had been a teacher long before she came to work at EWM, was always ready for a conversation. Me stumbling over nearly every word, and Lilia Ana patiently encouraging me to keep talking. I don’t begin to remember what I tried to say to her. But I still see very clearly Lilia Ana’s gentle smile as she listened.

Beth Butler – More often than not, there are two dogs in my household. When Travis, our yellow lab, was seven years old, we brought home a golden retriever puppy to keep him company. Within days, they were inseparable. If Molly tried his patience, he never showed it. To her he was part big brother, part daddy and always best buddy. Travis was nearly sixteen when he died. My husband and I were unspeakably sad. But Molly was devastated. She lost interest in just about everything — food, play, life in general. I hated leaving her home alone every day, so I asked Beth if I could bring her to our Ponce office on Fridays. Beth said sure, and that led the way to Molly’s career at EWM. She brought her favorite squeaky toys to work, said hello to everybody, took a couple of us for walks, and seemed genuinely happy to be alive. More than once, Beth commented that Molly was EWM’s best employee. After a few months, we adopted a little chocolate lab. That meant Molly had a full time job right at home. Beth accepted Molly’s resignation from EWM as gracefully as she embraced the idea of having our loopy grieving dog come to work in the first place.

I’d be willing to bet anything — anything — you have your own stories of EWM kindness. I’d love to read about them. Leave a comment here or, better yet, write your own blog. I honestly can’t think of a better topic!