Laura Leaving

March 18, 2012 – Laura Leaving

Your first team on a ship is very special as they provide the support group that allows you to make the transition from shore to ship. I already had to lose one of that initial group when Yez left in February. But now the landscape was going to radically change even more with Laura’s upcoming vacation. Laura was not only my teammate but my first manager on board ship. As a former T&D she was a great mentor in getting me settled in this new life and new role. And now she was continuing her adventure but on  a different path.

On Celebrity we have what is called the Buddy Program to get new crew members up-to-speed. For the Buddy Program to work successfully, the mentor assigned to each new crew member must be in the same department, work the same shift, and ideally do the same or similar job. They are to guide and instruct the new CM in all those things that would help them acclimate. Laura was not only my first manager but she was my Buddy. I learned more from Laura in my first 30 days on board than I have learned from any other coworker in my entire career. She was the perfect Buddy and an excellent manager.

More than just a manager, though, she became a friend. We are wired very much alike, although she is Canadian and since I am American there are certainly dome differences. I will never be as passionate about hockey or ever understand curling. But our work and personality styles were very similar. Both being workaholics allowed plenty of time to spend hours in just two short months honing my skills. As a hands-off manager she guided me with the perfect managerial style, giving me objectives to achieve and minimal guidance to allow me to succeed or fail without too much interruption. Although she is twenty years my junior we maintained mutual respect for each other’s expertise and contribution.

But Laura’s date for vacation finally came and she left us on St. Patrick’s Day. I have generally enjoyed St. Paddy’s Day, with the celebration of the Irish part of my heritage. But this day was different. First, because it was Turnaround, which is my busiest day of each cruise cycle. Second, I was not able to ‘wear the green,’ as I needed to be in proper uniform. Finally, I knew Laura would be leaving at 12:15pm that day which did not have me feeling like celebrating. Our team met early that morning as we usually do to start immigration for those who had recently joined the ship and emigration for those who would be signing off. It is a busy time and there is little time for small talk as we must focus on moving forward with the task at hand. Laura played two roles that morning, first as the HR Manager for the ship and second as a crew member who was signing off. After we finished the sign-offs, she and I sent out to  The Tent at the port in Bayonne to process our new crew members who were signing on, including our next HR Manager. That process occurred in a blur resulting in me needed to re-board the ship to head up to SKY B to work with all our sign-ons to ensure all their paperwork was complete. As the minutes ticked by I worried that Laura would simply sneak off the ship without saying goodbye to the team, while we were busy engaged in our tasks.

At exactly 12:15pm she called, “I’m at the gangway, where are you?” I had just returned to my office and immediately bolted down the I-95 to say goodbye. She and her boyfriend Joseph where there with their bags and ready to go. Unlike most of the crew they would not be boarding the bus to the airport, but would be taking a private car as their flight was later to embark on a well-earned four day mini-vacation to Jamaica before Joseph joined the Century and Laura started her vacation at home. We said a quick goodbye and she said longer goodbyes to Dwight and Lavern. She started to tow her large bag down the gangway and not yet ready to see this important new friend leave, I offered to take her bag for her to the car. Laura is a very strong and independent chica, but she quickly said ‘yes.’ I walked with Joseph, Laura, and our port agent, George, down the gangway and across the dock to the waiting car.

The goodbyes at the care were longer and a little more emotional. I found myself getting a little choked up at the thought of this new friend departing with no guarantee of ever crossing paths, again. With one last hug, Laura and Joseph dove into the car and I turned on my heel to walk toward the Teardrop Monument to collect my thoughts before returning to the ship. Halfway between the car and the monument I turned to give one final wave and as the car was pulling out, saw Laura turn and press her face against the back window as she waved goodbye.

She would head to Jamaica, home to Canada, onto Century to provide vacation relief, back to Canada for a brief vacation, onto Reflection to open the new ship, and then transfer back to Century to be their permanent HR Manager. Her adventure would continue on a different path than mine. And I hope someday those paths will cross, again.

And the adventure continues . . .