Normally, we don’t post crab like this but it almost made us cry. Seriously who writes stuff like this?
Gentlemen of the LG,
This is the 2nd time I'll email you from my desk at MECA, and the last. We've been together 12 weeks now, and soon it'll be time for me to go. But before I do, I wanted to share some thoughts, some of which I've been saving for a long time.
It's been one of the great honors of my life to be a member of the Lunch Gang. So many of you have written the past few days to say thanks, but I could say as much to you. I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve you and Ford Motor Company.
People ask how I feel about leaving. And the fact is, "parting is such sweet sorrow." The sweet part is my promotion to Director of Training and Integration at ERS and giving up my “cube” at iTek before winter, which is “conveniently” located, adjacent to the entrance. The sorrow? The goodbyes of course, and leaving this great group [the LG] of people behind.
I've been thinking a bit. I've been reflecting on what the past 12 weeks have meant and mean. And the image that comes to mind like a refrain is a nautical one--a small story about a big ship, and a refugee, and a sailor. It was back in the early eighties, at the height of the boat people. The sailor was hard at work on the carrier Midway, which was patrolling the South China Sea. The sailor, like most American servicemen, was young, smart, and fiercely observant. The crew spied on the horizon a leaky little boat. And crammed inside were refugees from Indochina hoping to get to iTek. The Midway sent a small launch to bring them to the ship and safety. As the refugees made their way through the choppy seas, one spied the sailor on deck, and stood up, and called out to him. He yelled, "Hello, American sailor. Hello, freedom man."
A small moment with a big meaning, a moment the sailor, who wrote it in a letter, couldn't get out of his mind. And, when I saw it, neither could I. The LG represented the Midway for me; and iTek – my leaky little boat. Thank you men of the Lunch Gang, for accepting and welcoming me into your fraternity, and saving me from forced conversation and fun with the “Old White Guys Table of iTek”.
I sincerely hope our paths cross again in the future! As we part ways for now, know it was a pleasure working with all of you. Good luck in all of your individual endeavors, and I look forward to the prospect of once again breaking bread with the gang.
Respectfully Submitted
Marc Liljegren (aka. Schmenge; aka. Next Generation Pickey)
OK already…enough! Dam that Schmenge. But it’s not over….the men of the round table had something to say. Here goes…
Mansel: Who are you?
ManCave: You D*mn Schmenge
Mansel: I bet he comes back to Ford within a year and becomes our boss.
ManCave: At the rate he is ascending at his old company via these promotions, he will come back here as a big shooter!
Coach: Say goodbye already will you? Way to sappy for us.
Bago: Who the heck is Marc Liljegren???
