Yesterday was my last day of work. My boss wanted to throw me a surprise party. I hate surprise parties. They are awful, vicious, and never end up like what’s intended. The first and last surprise party I had was my 13th birthday. I cried and ran out of the room. Surprise parties are the worst. This one was no exception.
I knew about the party ahead of time because my supposed “best friend” told me. She just can’t keep a secret. So I had gotten used to the idea and was ok with seeing everyone all together one last time.
Party time comes. No one is there. 30 minutes, 2 coworkers bring in a cake and a card, say “we’re not staying and no one else is coming” and leave. Card says “Good luck finding better coworkers than us!” 😅 yep. Irony is a bitch.
The ones who did come were family members, other volunteers, the people who actually appreciate me and my effort. Tye residents all gad nice things to say. One resident stared crying and said “you can’t leave, you’re my best friend, I can’t lose another friend.” She told me I’m the only one she trusts. Another resident said “who is going to help me water my plants? No one else does as much as you do.” Several family members have said how worried they are that I’m leaving, worrying that their loved ones won’t get as good of care. Those people are the reason I have stayed this long. Those are the people I know I can count on.
I have known that i wasn’t respected or truly appreciated there but still, this was a slap in the face. A big fuck you as a send off. The one staff member who did come was my boss. The one responsible for the majority of my hardships and stress there. And yet she was the only one who showed up. She spent a good chunk of time trying to convince me that i don’t actually want to be in nursing and this isn’t the path for me. Bitchy and passive aggressive right to the end, but hey, she showed up.
So yay. My send off was forcing me to throw myself a goodbye party, that i didn’t want in the first place, and then no one bothering to come. How fucked up is that? And yet, such a fitting goodbye. Surprise party indeed.