Nancy Choules is retiring on March 31 from First Interstate Bank. The party to send her off was a wonderful tribute. Nancy is the person with a constant smile on her face, bastion of positivity, a fun sense of humor, fierce loyalty, wicked smart, logical, committed, an always friend, honest, and a trusted protector of complex and confidential information. Nancy was my Executive Associate for well over 20 years. Nancy kept me on track most of the time and was not reticent about questioning my decisions or judgement. It is such a good thing to have an associate who will tell you the truth when it matters.
Nancy also supported the rest of our bank in so many ways. Nancy was the perpetual United Way captain, every year she set wildly optimistic goals for our employee giving and to my recollection seldom fell short. Nancy managed the community support budget for the State and became a go to person on not for profit detail. Expense reports were thoroughly reviewed, we all knew she would call out anything questionable. Nancy takes short hand and in a pinch would sit and listen as I would dictate letters or communications—I think she appreciated when I started typing my own documents and she only needed to edit them. It was always interesting when she would walk into my office, close the door, and say “I don’t think you should say this” or “really not wise.”
I always teased her about her hearing. She recently informed me her hearing was fine, she just can’t hear vowels. Although it is a bit of a non sequitur—she may be correct. There are a few words that have no vowels, psst, hmm, cwth, grwth, and grrrl are cited. If you consider y a vowel then there are more like crypt, cysts, and flyby. I doubt Nancy could hear eunoia or eutopia which are both words that have all of the vowels. In my mind the vowels tell the story of my respect and admiration for Nancy. I O U for the friendship and I have now explained Y. Join me wishing Nancy a great retirement and happy birthday on the 31st of March.
Next week, I am going to tell you about the importance of water in my life. I also explore mythology-how it lives with us each day and my hope for justice.
Enjoy spring break. Mike
Vowels
