Giovanni

There is this knack I have for forgiving people for their behavior. If the past is any reward, it's that I shouldn't. Trying to be optimistic about it, I figure it's a sign that they aren't bad people, but that I shouldn't be around them. Sometimes I can just keep hoping for them to realize their mistakes or mishaps.

When I lived in Chicago I had my second job interview at a large retail chain. Supposedly according to the Manager, he knew I was going to be hired when he first saw me. I will always think that he knew he was going to hire me when he asked for my resume and references and saw that they were in a binder with Sex and the City on the cover. We instantly had something in common, conversation was granted at the pass of something I really should have known better then to have had my paperwork in. So much that at the interview I didn't do the typical handshake, I did a hug; my judgment on this interview was lapsed.

In less then a week I started working, and the Manager in the sense of title was a let down. He hardly was there, and when he was there he really didn't do much. For some reason, I wasn't a factor to me; and I ended up seeing him outside of work more then I did at work. Offhand he wouldn't seem like someone I would want to hang out with. He had this habit of saying some some negative things about people maybe as a joke; but they came with some truth. Specifically one time he was complaining about one co-worker, and then at the meeting pointed out her work and gave her a necklace.

When I eventually moved away from Chicago, he was the person I remained in contact with for the longest. Which was quite unexpected, because while we enjoyed each other's company; he did sometimes get on my nerves.

One morning in July 2009 before I went to work I was checking my facebook, and decided to look at his profile randomly to find out he had died about a week beforehand. Looking back I see how forgiving him of his behavior worked well for me, it just hasn't worked very well since.