Leaving a place you like working is always tough, but Bridge (our resident emo skater cool kid) did a great job of telling us - each and every one of us - in a very nice email, just how tough it is.
Subject: The emo-ness and the rad-ness
I’m not sure how I got to be labelled “emo” really, but nonetheless I’ll not let the people down and will live up to the name with a little emo goodbye. (I apologise, for I am not wearing the tightest skinny pants I own, so the epic black eyeliner will have to do.)
Just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you, to all of you guys for being awesomeness personified. This has been the most awesome job ever, well it’s the only job I’ve ever had. What am I going to do now, apart from go through an existential crisis?
I’ve learnt a lot from you guys, I’ve learnt how to hold down tequila, I’ve learnt how to make people think I’m holding down tequila, I have laughed every single day I have been here, except for that one time when the Melrose banners were not delivered and I had a breakdown on the balcony, oh and that other time Megan made fun of my scarf at the Yogofun workshop and that time I couldn’t go to the Loeries…anyway... really guys thanks for being a great crew. Seeing as I will never be on Survivor or win a Grammy, I’d like do a pseudo “thank you” speech. I’m going to remember you guys, respectively, for these things:
Alistair: You petrify me, I always feel like I’ve done something wrong when you look my way. But you are cool, anyone that comes up with the idea of dressing up like
“A-ha” has to get props. But you still scare me. So does Garp.
James: Eat you heart out Donald Trump, for you sir, have better hair and are a way cooler boss. Thanks for giving me my first big break. I often think that I wouldn’t hire me if I was the boss or Tony Danza, but you gave me the chance. Whether that was a good thing or not, er, I dunno (J) But I thank you, I thank you.
Laurel and Lindsay: Thanks for being such awesome ninjas, sensei’s, samurais, mentors, babysitters, friends and just really awesome mentors a girl can look up to. I don’t have sisters but you two came close, ernstig. (Besides I think we could all be mistaken for sisters, people ask me if we are sisters all the time and the ones that don’t are jealous)You guys have taught me so so so much, it’s creepy to think what I knew before then (probably niks , just stuff about bands) Not sucking up here, just telling it like it is. You two rock. Thanks so much for teaching a girl child. My heart is getting sore just thinking about the idea of not being able to chat to you everyday.
Okay I’m gonna work the room now.
Gwen: You are by far one of the sweetest people I know. You and I had a weird habit of bumping into each other at the strangest place in the agency. I’ll miss that.
Candice: Your sartorial sense amazes me, really.
Client Service Girls (and Siya, whom I have decreed, is not the new Tie anymore but just Siya)
I apologise for my sometimes loud music, for not hearing you because of my loud music and for all of the times I broke into creepy laughter for seemingly no reason. There was always a reason, just bigger than all of us. I will miss you guys.
Les: I’m going to miss your laugh, it’s very infectious, and makes one think one is funny.
Carey: You owe me a pic of that dress. A word of warning: seeing as you have relocated to my old spot; you might break into creepy laughter for no reason.
Bobs: Thanks for teaching me the ropes when I started here, that could not have been a walk in the park ;)
Mel: You know your stuff; it takes a lot to have that much acumen about the industry yet remain as humble as you are. That’s cool. Someday I’ll be like that too. Just the acumen bit though, the Bling Empire I plan to acquire doesn’t quite fit with “humble”
Siya: It’s a pity Tie is not here, for he would have learnt some stuff from you, like how to be a proper gentleman and not be cheap and nasty.
PRODUCTION:
Sallyanne: You can’t fight the force that comes from Cynthia’s try. Srrender. You are probably the one person I know that uses the word “vomit” epically. I have officially been desensitised from what that word actually inspires. Good luck with the Bluecrush thing, that’s really cool.
Sylvie/Miss Kommetjie: Lady you rock. You know what you are doing and get it dome like chop-chop. Plus you are so super super sweet. Good luck with Liam;)
TRAFFIC:
Em: I have to confess that I was petrified of you and status for like the longest time. I broke out into a cold sweat on Sunday afternoons at the mere thought of it. But you know I had one of those epiphanies: that you know what you are doing and know how to steer this ship. You’re a ninja at what you do, and that’s cool.
T: When I started here, I was worried about your name. “What kind of name is tea? Is your sister named latte?” But then I got it, it’s like the spice girls and stuff. I’m gonna miss you skattie, you and your evil laugh, you making me feel like I am 12 and your stories about Azra and Tayeb. Oh and keep the Indian roots strong sister Parvati, don’t be telling people you are Muslim or coloured when you are Indian.
CREATIVE
Damian and Devin: You two guys are fools, really you are. But you are cool. I will miss the attitude (I guess). Thanks for the music Damian, Devin thanks for hmmm, well, the cigarettes and trying to give me an identity crisis. My only wish for you two is that you grow up someday. I’m not going to miss having to brief you.
Jabu: You owe my mother cows, pay up or else. Business aside, you are a rad copywriter. You are probably going to grow up to be one of those powerful okes in the industry and I’ll regret all the kak I have ever said to you because I will need a job from you or something.
Rachel: You are only chick I will ever take to a rock festival with me ;) Even if this time we will do it with Zac Posen bags and Marc Jacobs goodies. It’s not goodbye yet.
Karin: Can I baby sit Jack while I’m on a job hiatus?
Paige: Paige, who is going to call me radness now?
RSVP
ALEX: Lady, I owe you. You know why. You rock.
Stefan: You are useless. And you remind me of Seth Cohen, no, not the cuteness part. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Cohen
Mbulelo: You are such an awesome person Mbu, if I had a big brother, he would be you. You could also teach Tie a thing or two about being a gentleman.
Anna: I dig that you are racist chick, stand your ground, be right wing if you want to, it’s your democratic right. Just don’t come to Soweto ok ;)
Rikus: Bruggie sal jou vreeslik mis, please don’t act like you don’t know me when I bump into you at the Assembly.
Ryan: Mickey Mouse jersey is a lady killer. Trust me on that one dude. Lady. Killer.
Jenny: I am still begrudging you for feeding me copious amounts of tequila at the kersfees party. My face is still twitching. Thanks for “shortcake”, its rad.
DTP:
Craig you are actually the sweetest guy ever, I used to think you were like all hardcore and stuff. But you are sweet.
Brett, my humour is an acquired taste, sorry if I piss you off with it sometimes.
Media Boys:
I am not emo, I am cool. I will miss you, you will miss me. But you suck for not getting me proper black mags so I can find good role models to look up to like Beyonce and Rihanna. And Charl, thanks for introducing me to the Jonas Brothers, I can’t believe you have all the albums.
Strategy ladies: You two ladies are so sagacious. I don’t know how you do it but somehow you just make sense out of chaos. I hope have half of your skills when I grow up.
Dan, Rikus, Damian, Brett, Jabu, Craig, Athena, Luanne thanks for the music.
Nathan - dude, you know stuff. I’m going to miss the tips. You are going to miss my jokes; you just don’t know it yet.
Jules- I’ll see you sooner than you think.
Buhle and Pheliswa: Mantombazane ngizonikhumbula like that show on SABC 1
Mnemonic- Bruce Wayne and Karabz, Viva la Melrose! Linton: I’ll never invite you anywhere; Laura: Can I have that dress you wore at the Xmas party, Buckland: Seeing you without eyebrows still haunts me.
Here’s pouring imaginary Hennessy on the ground to all of you.
I am going to get heavy withdrawal symptoms and miss you like mad.
Bridge
xxx
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