Life is full of surprises.
“Expect the Unexpected,” someone told me, many years ago. I did not realize until some years later how true that was. Most of my early life proceeded along expected paths: Church and school, tests and grades, friends and play. Then I began to expand my perspective as I got older, made new friends and experienced new things. Still, Life occasionally delivered a zinger from out of the blue. That’s what happened, on December 5th, 1972, half-way through my senior year at UGA, when I got a midday call in my dorm room from my 15-year-old middle brother, Paul. I had gone back to the dorm to grab a quick lunch before heading back to afternoon classes. That call changed everything.
“Daddy died this morning. Heart attack. Come home.”
Paul never was one for words much; but those shocked me to my core. I knew our dad had been in poor health lately, but one never expects a call like that. So, I quickly packed a bag, and headed back to the building where my afternoon classes were scheduled, to notify my teachers that I would be gone for a week or so. Then I went downtown and got on a bus home.
The next week was a blur. People were in and out of our house all day, many bringing food that piled up on the kitchen table. Two neighbor ladies, good friends of my mom’s, came over to take charge and direct traffic. Then the funeral. I was trying to be strong for my mom and my four younger brothers, but sometimes I couldn’t see through all my tears. I must have used half a dozen handkerchiefs those next few days.
Eventually things calmed down, I went back to school, our family lawyer helped us with the next part, and life sort of went back to normal. As normal as things could be at that point.
Two years later, I finished my planned two-year graduate school program and came home for good. I went back to work in the wholesale business for a while, while I tried to figure out what to do.
Then I got another surprise. The president of the company called me in his office and told me to shut the door. I had no idea what he wanted to discuss, but I suspected it wasn’t good.
Actually, he wanted to make me a job offer. Instead of the special assignments work I was doing then, he wanted me to take over my late father’s position as Treasurer and Credit Manager. I was dumfounded.
“I don’t know anything about either of those jobs,” I told him, sitting there in shock. “No, but you’re smart, and you’ll learn,” he replied. “Besides, you know the inventory, the customers, the territories and the salesmen. You’ll pick it up. We had someone do it while you were still in school. But he wasn’t very good at it, and I’d like you to try it.”
I told him I’d have to talk it over with my mom and get back to him. Which I did, the next day. My mom reasoned it out the same way Mr. Williams did. So I let myself be persuaded.
And thus opened a whole new chapter in my life.
Again, unexpectedly.
And found, to my surprise, that I liked it. It was mentally challenging, but I found I was good at it. It helped me develop my people skills, and I had enough math skills I was able to develop systems to track our receivables and build a cash flow forecasting system, among other things; neither of which had the business had, previously, and both of which were needed. And, in this role, I got to know many of the good people who were our customers.
I don’t think Jack Williams ever regretted our conversation of that day. But I sure never saw it coming! That’s how Life often is.
Rafe Semmes is a native of Savannah and a proud graduate of (the “original”) Savannah High School on Washington Avenue and the University of Georgia. He has resided in Liberty County since 1986, where he and his wife share their half-acre with six cats and assorted wildlife.