My Friend Argus

 

My very good friend Argus came up for a visit this week, and we got to go out Saturday night and catch up. He lives in PA and I hadn’t seen him in over a year (thanks Covid!). As we reminisced over potato skins and chocolate chip lava cake (which had NO lava, by the way) I remembered when we first met.

Theoretically, we shouldn’t be friends. My original job moved to Atlanta, GA 3 years ago and I wasn’t mobile. Luckily, I had taken a couple of Civil Service tests and was number one on the lists, so I got to interview for my current job and they loved me! So, I was in.

My first day I pulled into the parking lot and parked. I was early so I sat there for a few minutes. Presently, I saw this young man heading for the building. What was notable was he had a backpack, and even though it was August he was wearing a jaunty hat. Not a fedora, but something smaller and kind of similar. I immediately thought he was crazy and forgot about him as I got out of my car to go to Human Resources.

Afterwards I was escorted to my new office. Imagine my surprise when I entered, and the first person I saw was the guy in the hat! I was introduced to those I hadn’t met during the interview, and discovered his name was Argus. And based on the hat: the name fit. They had a nice welcome to Financial Aid continental breakfast spread for me, and everyone was very nice.

The brunt of the training fell on Argus, as I’d be doing that kind of work. It was a little awkward with both of us sitting at the same desk, but we made it work. He wasn’t the cuddliest person I’d ever worked with but I figured it was because we were strangers.

WRONG!! I asked one of my friendlier coworkers where I’d be sitting after my training. She said, “At Argus’s desk.” “Um – then where is Argus going to sit?” “Well, you’re replacing him so he will have to find another job.” I guess that explained the frostiness! Apparently, he had gotten that job through a temp agency and he knew in order to keep it and be hired as a permanent employee, he had to pass the civil service test and score in the top three. Unfortunately, he did not do so; so after almost two years they couldn’t put it off any longer. Some people just don’t do well with testing; whereas I used to do it as a hobby (yep: more proof I’m a nerd).

So now I was faced with a quandary: how was I going to get him to like me, when I was taking his job?  The simple answer: charm him with my usual friendly, funny, twinkly self! I knew this might be a challenge but I was up for it!

Well you know the rest: he couldn’t hold out when my charm is on full blast! It took a little work but eventually he thawed out enough to be friends. We would sometimes have lunch together, and I really have no idea how the other people in the room could stand us. We always ended up laughing uproariously at something, and they would just look at us and roll their eyes. Don’t be jealous of our good time! And occasionally we would meet out for a bite to eat or a coffee just to chat. He is quirky and funny and has the best laugh. I’m glad I got to find that out!

But alas: all good things must come to an end. His time in our office ended and he was going to see where his next work adventure would take him. Little did we know that it would be to an office 2 buildings down! So he got to come back for a while. Just when the 2 ladies in the break room thought it was safe to have lunch!

Anyhoo, getting back to his last day: he walked me to my car so we could say so long, not goodbye. We stood there and talked for a good 40 minutes, neither one wanting to leave. But we both had things to do so finally we wished each other well. And then he opened his arms. Yep: like a homing pigeon I went right into them. It was the best hug I’d ever received, and coming from Argus it meant a lot. It was a good, strong, full-body full-of- meaning hug: the kind you want to just go on forever. But we finally separated and I told him he was one of my favorite people in the world; and he dittoed that sentiment. Thankfully, before it got mushy, I said to him, “I’m really going to miss your hat.” That brought on the laughter.

Since then, he has moved to Pennsylvania but we still keep in touch. When he visits family members up north he lets me know when he’s coming so we can get together. I will text him and say, “I miss your hat. And your face.”  So when we get together we laugh. And hug. If he could bottle those, he’d be a millionaire.

We just got together this past Saturday night. We enjoy spending time together, and he has admitted that no one makes him laugh more than me. I say, “As long as you’re laughing with me and not at me!” to which he replies, “No guarantees!”

So that’s my story of Argus, the best hugger in the world. Yes, we hugged before we parted Saturday night. And that was even better than the lava cookie. 😊 I wish I could have one of those every day. Maybe someday from some lucky man! And in case you're wondering: the hat is called a Trilby. See: you do learn something new every day!

Aww...no hat!