How do you solve a problem like Cecilia?

Ok, so today was eventful.

First, some of the design team (it's fun to say team, isn't it? MY TEAM. I like it.) and I went on a site visit to an AIDS hospice which needs to be turned into a (mostly) accessible space...and while the existing plans are nightmare-ish and a lot needs to be done in terms of drawing and planning which makes me anxious, it was a pretty moving experience. And the thing is, most of the people I work with have been working non-profit for years and have seen the most destitute, poor, and sickly situations that DC unfortunately contains (as do all big cities); therefore, the emotional toll that such visits take on a little ol' Kentucky gal like myself tend to be much greater than those of my collegues....in short, I'm green. And although I don't believe any member of my company to be totally jaded to such situations, the fact is, most of what Manna does is this kind of stuff, so they see it and know it. Anyway, we came in and the residents of this hospice were literally singing at the top of their lungs...you could hear it from outside. I don't know, what I'm trying to say is that I feel lucky to be alive, and I feel lucky to belong in a world/city that has people to open hospices for the sickly and to build houses for the not-so-fortunate. I realize it's cheesy, but there you have it.

Another thing! Carl, the much older (and much wiser) boss of me, permit specialist extraordinaire, is retiring pretty soon I think. Here's how the conversation went with us in the car on the way to the above mentioned site:

Bob: Carl, it sounds like you could use a trip to the Mexican Riviera soon....maybe passing on the torch would make your health in better condition (Carl's been a bit sick lately).

Carl: I was just thinking the same thing this morning.

Bob: So Cecilia, you about ready to take up the reins?

Me: Umm...can I have a trip to the Mexican Riviera before I do that?

Bob: Well, you know what they say...sometimes you're born into greatness, sometimes it's bred into you, and sometimes it's thrust upon you forcefully....

Me: Yep. Whatever works, Bob. (*laughs all around on the outside, long deep siiiiiiigh in my head*)

I would of course welcome the pay raise that would eventually come with the position, but man, do I have a lot more to learn. Scary! I do love Manna, though. Everyone is so nice and awesome that I take them for granted sometimes. I guess I won't really be able to say that work is boring once I have Carl's job....yikes.

Speaking of which, there's a work holiday party tonight that I want to go to in a way, but it doesn't start for another 2 hours, so it may be skipped. I'm way more awesome and ambitious than I'm making myself sound today. Oh well. In the next post, I'll go back to the regularly scheduled knitting/reading/crafty-ness banter. Cil ouuuut.

P.S. Who wants to watch The Sound of Music right now aside from me? Anyone? Anyone?