Quitting work in 1984

While I was at the copy machine, I was thinking of the impending confrontation of leaving work. Would people miss me, I wondered? You would think so at first. I'm well-liked in the office for being very non serious, playing jokes on people, have a lackadaisical approach to work in general, and for frequent discussions with people mixed in with occasional flirtations to make the day go by. Older women are not excluded. Plus I've been here for over a year and a half. For these reasons you would expect people to miss me, but I have to take the opposing viewpoint for a moment.

Also while at the copier, I thought of Janet. She was an eccentric older woman, probably around 50 or so, with butch-short bright purple hair and a rock hard body from constant working out. Smoking took a toll on her face and voice though. Very nice and personable, everyone liked her. She worked here for 27 years and got fired a few months ago. Once she was gone, it's almost as if she was never here. Someone came in and replaced her, life moved on.

Keith was my fantasy football buddy, and he quit about a month ago. The only time I ever hear his name now is when someone talks about a task he used to ("I'm doing the bank rec that Keith used to do.") No one speaks of his personality, their memories with him, etc. He doesn't work here. He never worked here.

The tone of this blog is very 1984, the masterpiece written by George Orwell about a futuristic government that controls everything in the country, even thoughts and the past. They control the books, newspapers, etc, so when they want a fact about a person changed they just rewrite all the books and destroy the old ones. The people in this world are so conditioned to accept these contradictions that they have no problem conflicting evidence. When people started to get a little suspicious or rebellious, the "thought police" would take care of them. Since they controlled the past, the only thing that existed was the present. The main character would note that "Roger didn't come into work today. He doesn't work here. He never worked here."

Similarly, what ever happened to Alicia? Bridget? Jeremy? All gone. Maleka? Never worked here. So many people just disappear one day, and management doesn't even tell anyone why or give explanations. I usually make some sort of joke indicating that the owner of the company chops them up and creates "Orleansburgers" with them.

They say that the average work friendship lasts 2 years. That seems way high to me.