WHAT'S YOUR FONDEST MEMORY OF SOMEONE WHO DIED RECENTLY? Care to share?
One of my previous subordinates died recently of a heart attack. I remember him fondly as the one who initially showed me the ropes here in the factory. It was him who taught me how to operate the Maker machine and the many quirks of life in the plant. He was a man who had high standards and always wanted to have high production output. He made sure that his machine was always clean and running well. And he liked to bet on race horses and shared with me his passion for drinking and singing.
He was more like my dad here in the plant and he would often be the one to talk to me whenever he found my decisions to be questionable or unfair. My day was never complete without a sight of the man. This was because he was rarely late or absent and was very fastidious with his health and affairs. You would often catch him pumping an improvised dumbbell while on duty at his machine. Though he was eventually diagnosed with hypertension and glaucoma around 5 years ago, this did not deter him from keeping to his routine. His stubbornness just wouldn't let him be beaten.
Everybody called him Erning and so did I. And he was the best friend anyone can have in the plant. So when the news came that he had passed away two years after retirement, I was very sad. He had apparently neglected to exercise and thus his health deteriorated. I was supposed to go to his wake but I had no idea on how to get to his house. The few people I was supposed to go with neglected to inform me that they were going to his wake.
I'm sad I was not able to pay tribute to the man that day. But even if for just a moment here, I will proudly say that I was one of the people who was fortunate to have my life touched by his kindness and charm. To my mentor and friend Erning:
Thank you! You will be in our hearts always!
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