Ponyman66
Yak, yak, yak
Last Friday I received an email from one of the Chiefs at work advising me that I had to meet with my Port Director today (he's THE big boss). I was also advised that since my supervisor would be out today I would be "accompanied" by my Chief. For the past week I have been sweating bullets! I haven't worked there long enough to screw up THAT bad! While several different possibilities were offered by coworkers as to why I had to go, each was rejected for valid reasons. The email also stated that the meeting was scheduled for 11am. Two days ago I told a coworker that I'd drive down to the meeting at 10:30am at the latest, which would have me arriving about 15 minutes early (generally accepted as standard practice for an appointment). Yesterday my supervisor told me that I would be there AT 10:30. I thought, WTF?!! While it's proper to be at an appointment early, NOT half an hour early!
Still trying to think of a reason why I could be in trouble, and not wanting to potentially add to it, I was dutifully there at 10:30am...sharp! I met with my Chief in her office and chatted with her a while. She offered several "possible reasons" why the Director wanted to see me (the same ones offered earlier by my coworkers!). Just before 11am she called the Directors office and was told he was ready to see me. Down we went. Keep in mind, I struggled for 5 YEARS(!!!) to get this job. I'm finally scheduled to go to the academy this coming Sunday. I certainly didn't want anything to go wrong and lose it all. I've been in near heart failure the entire past week!
As we walk into the outer office we were greeted by the Assistant Port Director, who then motioned us in. OH GREAT! The whole upper echelon is there.....I musta REALLY screwed something up! As I walked through the door I about fell over!
The look on my face:
It turns out that the command staff from my old police department had made arrangements with my Port Director to present a commendation to me for my actions in the car on fire with the trapped driver which occurred back in August. While that in itself would have really surprised me, the utter shock and disbelief was caused by who I saw in the office (which is pretty darn big..almost conference room size!). Not only were the Port Director, Asst. Port Director and my Chief present, but all of the other Chiefs from the Port of Charleston, the Deputy Chief from my old department, my old Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, almost the entire traffic team I had worked with, my wife and my daughter!! The room was packed!! Here I had crapping cinder blocks the whole time about what I had could have possibly done wrong! LOL They had all set me up! After I was presented my commendation they took a bunch of pictures and I had to speak (didn't have a choice..the Port Director told me to say SOMETHING!). He then offered to take all of them on a guided tour of the Customs House.
I though it was really cool of my old department to make the effort they did, especially in front of all of my new bosses. It was equally cool of my new bosses to allow it. The whole thing really made my day....especially finding out I DIDN'T screw up!! LOL
The police department folks that came down (including my younger brother, who's standing to my left (right side in pic)):
Still trying to think of a reason why I could be in trouble, and not wanting to potentially add to it, I was dutifully there at 10:30am...sharp! I met with my Chief in her office and chatted with her a while. She offered several "possible reasons" why the Director wanted to see me (the same ones offered earlier by my coworkers!). Just before 11am she called the Directors office and was told he was ready to see me. Down we went. Keep in mind, I struggled for 5 YEARS(!!!) to get this job. I'm finally scheduled to go to the academy this coming Sunday. I certainly didn't want anything to go wrong and lose it all. I've been in near heart failure the entire past week!
As we walk into the outer office we were greeted by the Assistant Port Director, who then motioned us in. OH GREAT! The whole upper echelon is there.....I musta REALLY screwed something up! As I walked through the door I about fell over!
The look on my face:
It turns out that the command staff from my old police department had made arrangements with my Port Director to present a commendation to me for my actions in the car on fire with the trapped driver which occurred back in August. While that in itself would have really surprised me, the utter shock and disbelief was caused by who I saw in the office (which is pretty darn big..almost conference room size!). Not only were the Port Director, Asst. Port Director and my Chief present, but all of the other Chiefs from the Port of Charleston, the Deputy Chief from my old department, my old Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, almost the entire traffic team I had worked with, my wife and my daughter!! The room was packed!! Here I had crapping cinder blocks the whole time about what I had could have possibly done wrong! LOL They had all set me up! After I was presented my commendation they took a bunch of pictures and I had to speak (didn't have a choice..the Port Director told me to say SOMETHING!). He then offered to take all of them on a guided tour of the Customs House.
I though it was really cool of my old department to make the effort they did, especially in front of all of my new bosses. It was equally cool of my new bosses to allow it. The whole thing really made my day....especially finding out I DIDN'T screw up!! LOL
The police department folks that came down (including my younger brother, who's standing to my left (right side in pic)):
bj
