Monday, November 28, 2011

My friend and mentor

I kept his books and reports organized
Today I received an interesting email from Mickey, my old boss, friend, and mentor. I took this picture of him sometime back in the early 2000s sitting at his desk. It's obviously fall, looking at the trees behind him. We didn't dress up at NCAR (the National Center for Atmospheric Research), and the Senior Scientists like Mickey regularly showed up for work in t-shirts, jeans, and Birkenstocks. That big bag by the trash can was one that Mickey carried back and forth with him every day.

I worked for Mickey for almost thirty years, first as his secretary (before they were called administrative assistants) and finally ending up as his writer/editor and essentially his partner in every one of his endeavors. Together we put together many international conferences, and he gave me the opportunity to travel all over the world. We published dozens of books, and I was the person who helped Mickey put into print books and reports we could be proud of. I've written about this at length in my other blog.
Mickey shopping in Hanoi 2006
Mickey would decompress from the stress of being in the front of the room and directing the workshops (usually four days long) by shopping. He found it relaxing and would give presents away to everyone he met. I remember once standing in Bangkok's terrifically crowded Mah Boon Krong shopping center with Mickey, with hundreds of people rushing from one place to another, while he guided me unerringly to his destination, a place where we could get business cards printed up in minutes. He was in his element, and I was just simply overwhelmed.
Mickey also mentored everyone he met, not just me. Once he knew what I was good at, he took full advantage of my talents. These young Chinese students are interviewing Mickey about his work, and I believe he has continued to mentor many of them through email, sometimes for years. Mickey never forgets a friend. Today in his email, he told me of the fate of the last of our colleagues in our now-defunct office. Mickey has finally retired from the frenetic pace he kept up for decades.
I retired from my job with Mickey in March 2008. Mickey took me with him on one last trip that month, this one to Rome, where I had never been before. He had a conference to attend and asked me to go with him and take notes. (It was really because he wanted to give me a gift.) Here he is in front of the Trevi Fountain, a beautiful and ancient place that brings tourists from all over the world to throw coins into the fountain, which is supposed to ensure your return to Rome. I didn't throw one in, so I guess I'm not going back to Rome.

This man changed my life in so many ways. He taught me to believe in myself, and he showed me the world. Although I am three years younger than he, I was always rushing to keep up with him as he strode through the streets of whatever city we were in. Mickey is not only a good person, through and through, but he's the only real Citizen of the World I've ever known.

Probably the most important thing he taught me was learning to give without any thought of return. He has friends all over the world, and I know that if I ever needed anything, Mickey would bend heaven and earth to help me. The email he sent me today reminded me that my blogging friends should know about this great guy, too.
:-)

29 comments:

  1. How lucky you are to have such a kind friend and mentor. It sounds like you had the perfect mix, not just at work but in life...
    I can only imagine some of the places you have visited, different cultures, and yet it sounds like you were both quite at home wherever you hubg your hats.
    A lovely post to Mickey...

    p.s. Thank you for your kind words, during our family loss.
    x
    ~Jo

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  2. He sounds like a keeper, DJan! And what a very cool job you had. Are you a Sagittarian? If so, then you certainly have lived out the archetype!

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  3. sounds like quite the man...i got one of those mentors and they are truly special...though i need to talk to mine about taking me to rome...he is trying to get me to africa though...

    i used to give seminars all over the states...it was a rush to be up there..investing in lives...

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  4. What an excellent tribute to Mickey! Does he read your blog? If not, you should direct him to it.

    Your job took you to so many exotic places -- more than enough to fill a lifetime. I love your photos.

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  5. What a nice post about a man you respect. He sounds like someone I want to meet and just a GOOD POSITIVE PERSON!!! Sounds like he has his priorities intact :D

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  6. You were so very lucky to have such a wonderful mentor/boss/co-worker. And it sounds like you had a dream job!

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  7. There are special, unforgettable, positively influential souls that we meet in life. Mickey is one of those precious people. You were lucky enough to have him be a part of your life these past decades and haven't lost touch yet! Wow!

    This was a heartfelt tribute. Loved the pictures. They brought him to life for me.

    He was fortunate to know you, too. :):)

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  8. You were fortunate to have Mickey as a mentor. I would also venture to say that Mickey would have found you an inspiration and support for his work. Both people and those around them gain

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  9. You were very fortunate to have a mentor like Mickey, but I am guessing he was also fortunate to have someone like you to mentor. Thanks for sharing his story with us.

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  10. What a lovely post about someone who sounds like a fantastic person. Thank you so much. Your affection for him was more than clear - and it sounds fully deserved.

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  11. What a wonderful opportunity you happened into with that first job. But then as your talents developed, you got to take on responsibilities that allowed for amazing travel and experiences. You and Mickey must have been quite a team!

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  12. He sounds like a true gem of a man and it sounds like you had the perfect job. Thanks so much for telling us all about Mickey. I hope you'll be sharing this tribute with him, too.

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  13. High praise indeed DJan! Through you we've gotten the portrait of a great man and it sounds like he was an important positive influence on your life! If only there were many more out there like him!

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  14. Mickey sounds like a truly wonderful person and friend. You were very fortunate to have him as your mentor. The opportunities to travel around the world were the icing on your cake. It is really good that the two of you have stayed in touch.

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  15. Lucky you to have happened into a job for such a person! What a man.
    I wonder, whenever I contemplate people who seem to pack so much more than I do into their days, what bestirs them. What are the beliefs that keep them moving forward, interested in The Next Thing...? It is a kind of energy that I have never had.

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  16. What blessings are the people who find their way into our lives!!

    Mickey sounds like a wonderful man...generous of heart, sharp of mind and full of fun.

    You have had a pretty wonderful life, haven't you, cupcake?

    We're having a Washington weather kind of day here today, chilly and wet,wet,wet. :)

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  17. I read your other blog! From what you have written about him previously and what you added today he sounds like a one of a kind guy..he is very lucky to have known YOU!:)

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  18. Such a wonderful tribute. I had a boss who reminds me so much of what you wrote about Mickey. I still talk to her once in a while. And the amazing thing is that it's just like old times :)

    Oh and how cool to travel like that!

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  19. he has a kind face
    what a wonderful peer and friend
    and what a fantastic job you had

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  20. What a great story about a great guy. And here is his kind face in front of Trevi Fountain! Even if you didn't throw your coin in you can still visit again- now I'm here! Thanks for the reminder that such people inhabit our world.

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  21. Thanks for sharing about your wonderful friend. You post makes me believe that your were fortunate to have had each other.

    You made me think about how our work should bring us pleasure and feed our souls. It sound like your work was exactly that.

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  22. Such friends are rare gems. You are very lucky to have known such a person. As a young teacher I had such a mentor who unfortunately died way to young....

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  23. You have enjoyed deep friendships and you have experienced much in your young life. Yes, you are still young among the citizens of the world.

    Your long time relationships are amazing to me. Mickey must be an intelligent, interesting, open minded friend to all. This is a great post. I am so glad he is in your life. Your lesson of learning to give without thought of anything in return is a priceless gift to you. I know you pass along that gift to others now too.

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  24. I really enjoyed getting to know a little about Mickey and the impact he had on your life, Jan. I follow both Dee & Rita's blogs and have seen your comments there and on Sandi and Elisa's blogs. I thought it was about time I popped round to meet you 'in person'.

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  25. Of all the things that one human can give another, time, attention and caring are the most valuable. I think back on the people who helped, mentored, me in my past. I tried to do the same. I mentored my junior technician so that he would be in a position to take my job when I retired. It happened and I am very proud of him.

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  26. I really enjoyed reading about Mickey and about your work together. I agree with those who say it's a rare privilege to work for someone like that. I'm sure he loved having you as a colleague, too.

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  27. This post brought tears to my eyes. Mickey is such a beautiful and caring person...a very special man indeed. How wonderful that he touches so many lives with his kindness and generosity. We need a lot more people like him in this world. xo

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  28. Nice tribute to your generous friend!

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  29. This is such a beautiful tribute to an amazing guy. I wish all bosses could be like Mickey. Gracious, I wish everybody could be like Mickey. How wonderful that you got to work for him for so long and how wonderful that he had you too.

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