A different kind of homesick

I've been up here (Alaska) for 4.5 months now.  I knew that I would experience homesickness for my family, and whenever that creeps up Jeff gives me big hugs and lets me be sad.

But I didn't expect to have homesickness for my former co-workers.

I started a new job this week.  An easy, non-stressful, part time job.  I didn't want stress.  I didn't want to work full time (because I wanted to be able to continue cooking home-made dinner most nights).  So this was perfect.

Problem is, now that I'm there, my old co-workers aren't.  No lunches with Colleen & Lois.  No whistling from Mark.  I'm not hearing Lesley enter the hallway and say "He-ey!" (etc etc etc - I could go on for at least a couple dozen examples)  And it all makes me a bit sad.

It's much less boisterous at my new job.  Everyone is very nice - don't get me wrong.   But as the new girl no one knows me yet so while I get "Hi." and "How are you?" the conversation ends there.  I haven't been the new girl in almost 14 years (and when I was the new girl, on my first day, someone came to my office and said "Who's my new friend?") so I had forgotten how it feels.

*sigh*

So the next time there is a new person where you work, go the extra mile for him/her, knowing that they just might be a little homesick for old coworkers.



Thanks for reading.

Oh, and here's a view from my office window: