Goodbye Kerry

I have been catching up with a ‘colleague’ for about two years now. We meet every Tuesday or Wednesday. At first, it was for a walk around the park with a coconut and lychee smoothie, then it became over a coffee. Now we grab a lunch during our weekly get-togethers. There are texts here and there, but we see each other weekly – always ‘face to face.’

At our regular haunts, staff would often ask if we worked together and "Is this a business meeting or just friends getting together every week?"

Kerry always smiled at me and said, "A bit of both."

As we have gotten to know each other, we have shared the moment, as well as both sad and happy times. But mostly Kerry focuses on stories of hope.

What made us laugh the most were my verbal meanderings about the different jobs I have had and how they tangentially intersected with her life story. So many jobs since starting working as a Dental Nurse with my Dad, back in Grade 9 (1979), to now, as a stay at home Mum to Ross (in 2016) – the best job of all.

Kerry is from Scotland and traveled with her family around Australia before settling in Brisbane. Hearing her say, "Hello Pauline, it's Kerry!" would have me jumping up, even though sometimes wearing 'cement boots' and heading for the door. Part of her charm? Her gentle Scottish accent.

Here are a few of our conversation moments that made us chuckle:

K: We loved Adelaide, especially the Fringe and Festival of Arts.

P: Yes they are great. I worked at the Festival Centre in ticket sales. Being so awesome we were given $5 tickets or 'comps.’So I saw a lot of shows!

K: We went to some great stuff at the Library over the weekend [ With her husband and young son. ] I had no idea they organised such wonderful free events for kids!

P: They have great programs now. I didn’t work at the State Library or with Children. University and Specialist Libraries though.

K: A Librarian? I thought you did Speech Therapy?

P: Yes. You're right there, but a few things since.

K: Getting back to Libraries please!

P: After a couple of years as a Therapist, I quit and studied at night at the Queensland University of Technology. Working days – five hours of shelving. Killer on the back. Then as a Library Assistant in Inter-Library Loans. Um... professional jobs. Let's see. In Adelaide? The Flinders University Medical Library, National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, then I just survived six months as the Science Librarian at the main Flinders University campus. Such a relief to resign. I did it via fax using a letterhead with a line drawing of a waving and smiling Koala. Faxed it from the post office when visiting my family.

Then, back in Brisbane, a few locums before finishing at the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE. You know, going on from being a ‘Librarian’ into different jobs within TAFE – 1998 to 2006.

K: Good God no! But no doubt we'll stumble across them. Oh shoot, I have to go!

K: We really need a cleaner at home. Both of us working full time and my son in after school care. No time to relax and spend some time together. Not sure how to go about it.

P: Well, I did a traineeship with Absolute Domestics and am the proud holder of a Certificate III in Cleaning. Why don't you give them a go?

K: You're kidding me now, right??

P: Nope.

And probably my favourite...

K: We want to go to Sizzler this weekend.

P: Yeah? I used to work at Brookside and flip the cheese toast.

K: That is an outright lie. I just don't believe you

P: [ Another ] Nope.

I did try to trick her the other day...

K: We're going to a movie for a school holiday treat.

P: At Chermside? My last paid job was the oldest living candy bar lady.

K: [ Eyebrows raised ]

P: No, that was just a joke!

And so we meet for our last get-together today. I hope more happy than sad.

I have made her some cards and decided to note down all of the different positions I have worked in and pop it in as an insert - even remembering dates. 30 positions! Yes, 30! A surprise for me and her both.

Kerry has said to me many a time, "Pauline, you need to write down your stories. I'd be the first to buy your stories. And that one's not a lie!"

In my card to her, I have told her that I have always wanted to be a writer, ever since I picked up a pen and started writing a journal back in Grade 6. All those years ago.

At the end of our sessions, Kerry often mentioned that my mood improved over the hour as we chat.

"That's because of how you make me feel. A little better each week.

And it will sound strange – but sometimes I feel like you are going to cure me. Are you going to put that in your notes? Because that sounds way off-centre, I know!"

I end now with a couple of possible titles if I ever do get a book written:

- Why is my Psychiatrist now wearing pink Lycra bike shorts?

[ Thankfully not my current one ]

- I’ve just found a banana in my pajama coat.

Thank you so much Kerry and farewell.

If that book gets written I will dedicate it to you [ and of course my son Ross – he'd kill me otherwise. ]

I will have to pass onto her this morning that, although he has never met her, Ross said, “Say goodbye to Kerry for me Pauline. But if I'm being totally honest with you. I really, really hate that she's leaving.”

I know Rossy, you and me both.

Kerry has been my Community Mental Health Care Nurse for these last two years. So I'll just have to be thankful and give myself a little time to grieve. Then get on and cope.

Pauline Fountain. © 2021. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the author.