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Wonderful Tonight

Richard K. Williams

    I was working for an electronic security and fire systems integrator operating in the mid coast area of Maine. My position was as the technical services manager. My daily tasks included overseeing the installation and service technicians, working with the service schedulers and salespeople to co-ordinate the workload and calendar. I reviewed all service tickets and installation progress, ordering needed equipment for jobs, repairs, and inventory. I also supplied input to the salespeople, assisting them with system design and engineering. It was a great place to work, and I enjoyed my job. I got along well with my co-workers, and I worked well with my boss Michelle the general manager. She was the first woman I had ever worked for, and I thought she was great! Michelle was a true team player who was firm but fair. She was also concerned with the well being of the people who were in her charge, taking an interest in our personal lives as well. Michelle and I worked well together and had gotten together socially at business lunches and the occasional after work gatherings. We had become friends and while we were relaxed around each other I do recall one awkward moment that even to this day makes me smile.
    Michelle had called me into her office for our monthly meeting to discuss ongoing jobs and the upcoming work schedule. I was sitting at her desk across from her, and after exchanging some pleasantries we got down to business discussing upcoming installs, completed work and service calls that went well or could use some improvement, and how those improvements could be implemented.
    At one point in our meeting during a lull in our discussions Michelle noticed a song that came on the radio that she had softly playing in the background. The song was Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight from his 1977 Slow Hand album. I noticed Michelle intently listening for a few seconds when she suddenly bust out saying. “Why don’t they just say he’s a drunk?!” “God, I hate this song, and what sort of moron would ever have this as their wedding song anyway?!” I stared deeply into her eyes as I slowly raised my hand. “Uh, my wife and I?” I said.
    It is indeed a rare occasion to get an opportunity to see your boss express complete mortification.
    Her eyes became huge, and her mouth ratcheted as she attempted to stammer out an apology, which I didn’t hear because I was laughing too hard.
    I suppose that if Michelle and I were not friends that exchange could have gone another way but shortly, we were both laughing.
    Despite the passing of time in years, the distance, and the life, and job changes, that caused us to loose touch. That work memory remains one of my fondest, and whenever I hear Wonderful Tonight it reminds me of two special life occurrences.

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