It’s Monday and there are lots of things to get done here at Intero, but last night we lost our office dog and valued team member, Lucy, and frankly it’s hard to think about anything else right now. I once heard it said that one of life’s cruelest realities is that the life span of a dog is so much shorter than that of humans. Well, the Intero team is definitely feeling the weight of this today.
Lucy was a fixture in our office from my very first day at Intero, 3 years ago. She welcomed me with her hot, stinky breath and promptly transferred about a handful of dog hair onto my black pants, then plopped down at my feet. I thought, “Okay, Lucy isn’t nervous so why should I be?” We have been friends ever since.
Lucy was somewhat of a LinkedIn expert, having spent years listening to every conversation, training, webinar and meeting that we held on the ins and outs of LinkedIn. She knew all there was to know, but she never flaunted it. In fact, she humbly remained a quiet observer and learner throughout her days on the Intero team.
Lucy knew a lot about a lot of things, actually. And as I sit here today, reflecting on such a wonderful dog and such a lovely friendship, I thought I’d share some of the very important lessons that I’ve learned from Lucy over the years.
No one knows or practices loyalty like a dog. But Lucy’s brand of loyalty was special. She would often seek out one of us to spend an hour or two with, calmly sitting at our feet as we worked. We are so busy and constantly juggling many different priorities, but Lucy’s presence always helped me to take a few deep breaths and tackle each item on my to do list with confidence and a broader perspective.
She liked to sit with each of us, but she always knew where her bread was buttered, and Colleen was Lucy’s most valued companion. The most significant display of Lucy’s loyalty was during times when Colleen left the office to meet with a client or hold a training. Lucy would plant herself by the office door and not budge under any circumstances until Colleen returned. I never tested it out, but I’m sure I could have stood at the top of the stairs with a pound of bacon and she would have simply sat at the door and patiently waited for Colleen.
In an age where we are often abandoning one thing for the next, in constant pursuit of the biggest or best, Lucy would quietly sit at the door and wait, knowing that her owner would return soon; a truly loyal friend and co-worker.
If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Lucy, then you may know that Lucy had a propensity for strange and hilarious “outbursts,” almost always at not-so-ideal times. In the middle of a webinar, for example, we’d all have to quickly mute our phones because Lucy would decide that she was bored and begin rubbing her nose against the carpet, making growling and snorting noises as she scooted her way across the room.
Colleen would often snap her finger and Lucy would settle right back down and go to sleep, but occasionally these fits would last for several minutes. Not only was it difficult to concentrate; it was downright hysterical! We would all laugh and shake our heads at her goofy antics and it always felt like such a nice pause; a reminder that there is always time for play and fun.
One summer at Intero, our air conditioning unit began a slow decline and we were without A/C three or four times. We’d pull the blinds shut, fan ourselves, drink gallons of water to rehydrate and constantly discuss the discomfort that we were experiencing. Lucy, being a golden retriever and wearing the equivalent of a wool coat at all times, would quietly lay on the carpet (sometimes directly in a sunbeam, mind you) and simply snooze the day away. She wasn’t at her optimum level of comfort, but she didn’t protest. She took it all in stride.
In fact, she took everything in stride. Lucy had a calm, quiet presence. She didn’t get frazzled when new people visited the office; she simply welcomed them with the same warmth that she would show an old friend. She approached each car ride as an adventure. I think she even liked going to the groomer!
So, here’s to my friend and cherished teammate. In celebration and remembrance, I’m going to continue to try harder to be loyal, to have fun and to take the bumps in the road in stride. Thank you for so many valuable lessons, Lucy.