BY WENDY CZAKO-MAH
Have you ever walked into a place, one you walk into five days a week, week after week, and suddenly noticed something was missing? This might be that week when you walk into the main cafeteria at Conestoga College’s Doon campus.
The cafeteria is now short one employee, as one of its veteran cashiers said goodbye Nov. 2.
With her husband planning to retire soon, Linda Muise, a cashier at the college’s main cafeteria, decided it was also her time.
After 20 years with the college, Muise’s first plan is to do some travelling. “After that it’s wide open,” she said.
Renate Rathwell, a fellow co-worker and friend, said, “I’ve been here 31 years and I never thought she would retire before me.”
Rathwell said Uta Ottmann, a fellow co-worker, will miss Muise the most. Thad developed a great friendship.
‘She’s got a really good sense of humour,” said Ottmann. “I’ll miss that. We don’t have to tell each other what to do.”
Renate was quick to interject. “They work as a team,” she said.
“We just worked well together and she is such a nice lady,” said Ottmann.
The two enjoyed many funny moments. Ottmann noted one in particular, when they were informed that they had to keep track of the napkins. “The customers were calling us the napkin Nazis,” said Ottmann. “I’m not sure you can put that in your paper,” she chuckled.
The news came as a surprise to Ottmann. “I thought maybe she’d finish out the year,” she said. “But I guess she just figured, when it’s time to go, you got to go.”
When asked what Muise would miss the most, her eyes filled with tears. “My co-workers,” she said.