The Angel of Death

By my reckoning about a dozen people were subjected to "involuntary separations" today; cost cutting, downsizing. Nothing personal.

Sure and it wasn't. Everybody has a job to do and mouths to feed, if none but his own. Including the guy from HR tasked with doing this unenviable job. The Angel of Death I dubbed him.

Pithy, I am.

It was almost comical... almost... The Death Angel would arrive appear and the victim's neighbors would scurry to a spot a few aisles over and herd. Wide eyed, heads jerking, peering over cube walls.

Actually herd, like a group of wildebeast. As if grouping like that would confuse a likely predator. I saw fear, raw, open fear today. Frustration, tears. And in at least a couple of instances a bit of nobility and grace under fire. I saw a man praying at his desk - boxes packed in anticipation - while directly over the low cube wall adjacent to him his co-worker packed his things while the Angel of Death stood vigilant, clipboard in hand, checking off whatever procedure we use at a time like this. The praying man was spared.

The last two (or was it three?) times we did this I was fortunate enough to be out of the office. I see now why so many of my co-workers were dreading the day. Most surreal day of my work life.

Our manager called the "all clear" at 1:30 and said we could all go home if we liked. I thought a beer and a plate of calamari were in order. But I'm still numb, or something... I'm certainly not relieved.