Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 | Someone is retiring today. That’s not very big news. Her name is Margaret and she has most recently worked for the San Diego Public Library as a deputy director over the Central Library services, including the sections, technology, and technical services areas. I write that, but it doesn’t touch who Margaret is. She is one of the most kind and cheerful people that ever worked in the city of San Diego. In a place where too many employees spend their time whining and complaining (me too, I admit it), Margaret always puts joy and enthusiasm into any project she gets assigned. Her optimism has been a bright light in many a gloomy day. I’ve known Margaret for many, many years.
I’ve slipped in and out of jobs that connected for periods of time with hers. I think I will remember her most for her kind heart. There is no citizen who won’t be treated with respect by her, there is no employee that won’t get a gentle word from her, there’s no soulful dog that won’t get a treat from her pocket. I shall miss her terribly. So will we all.
Margaret, I hope you have great happiness in your retirement. You’ve earned it, and you deserve it, and I know the library staff knows that you are truly irreplaceable in every important way. It is a loss to us, to the public, and to the city, because we don’t have enough people at the management who care so deeply about their staff, and work so hard to make things better for all of us. You know it’s true that you will always be someone I remember with great fondness, and I do hope you enjoy every second of this new life adventure.