People often talk about how much they dislike their bosses or how much their bosses drive them crazy. Usually, I’d agree because your boss is supposed to be on you about doing your job. It’s tough love, but at the end of the day, you appreciate what they teach you. 

But, Nora is different.

She wants you to do your job correctly but goes far beyond the normal elements of a boss.

She’s a character.

She always shows you memes on her phone, and even though they are corny, they always make you laugh. She always knows when something is wrong and when somebody needs to talk about what’s bothering them. It doesn’t matter if it’s something insanely stupid or a problem that’s really been giving you a hard time.

She’s an entertainer and will always watch the shows you like with you or listen to the music you like, even though it’s not her favorite.

Nora will always be correct as much as it will anger other workers. She always wins the argument no matter what. Nothing defines the statement “mom’s always right” like her. She’s there for you like no other, even if you’re in the biggest rut of your life, her home is always open to you if you’ve had a rough night.

In addition to being an amazing boss, she is the mother of two amazingly hilarious, supporting and headstrong individuals. If it wasn’t for them, I would’ve been alone at the lunch table in fifth grade singing “Power Rangers” in a new school, in a new town, in the middle of the school year.

Thank you for always giving me rides to school when you saw me walking with my euphonium which made me look even smaller than I was. It was always hard being a tiny kid, but it always felt amazing to have someone who defended me when someone called me small. I also thank Nora for providing me with a job when I needed one and for helping me develop my social cues to become a people person. Thank you for bringing me out of my house when I couldn’t take the pressure of my overwhelmingly stressful home and providing me with a place to sleep for the night or weekend. Thank you for being so strong through everything. You deserve to be thanked not just by me but by everyone you’ve made a mark on.

Nora is beautiful and intelligent and she means so much to everyone she has interacted with. I’m so thankful I’ve been given the opportunity to be blessed by her presence. It’s an overwhelming feeling to be loved with such immense amounts by someone who is merely your boss. I never had the opportunity to feel a mother’s love, and because of you, I was gifted. 

Thank you, Nora.