The Gray Line Tour – Leonard Gray

Recently, I managed a vacation, prompted partially by the fact that I rarely took my annual vacation time due. In short, I had far too much piled up, and I needed to use some of it.

It felt great to be out of town, indeed, out of state, attending the high school graduation of my goddaughter. Having no children of my own, I could vicariously feel the parental pride of her hard work and accomplishments.

It also felt nice to be away from the office for 10 days.

I gave scant thought of what was happening back at the office, and I felt not a twinge of conscience at my absence.

I’ve since learned better.

Not long after returning to the office, I’m besieged by a series of vacations, short and long, by most of my other editorial staff members. One is on vacation now, and she is returning on Thursday. Another is taking a long weekend on Friday for a three-day weekend. And yet another staff member is taking a long-awaited and well-deserved time off.

What’s left is sorting through stories, finding out what has run, what has not, who’s in and who’s out, dealing with those over-worked by the absence of others and keeping the ship steady on course throughout.

It’s a challenge, and it’s one which is simply part of the job. It does make me, more and more, appreciate the efforts of those involved in assembling the editorial content of this newspaper, and it likewise illustrates the fact that this is a true team effort. When one teammate is absent, and the others have to step in and pitch in their efforts, we all appreciate one another all the more upon their return.

A lesson is learned from all this, of course, and not just to me. In any team, from the New Orleans Voodoo to the staff members of L’Observateur – we are all in this together, and it is the efforts of all which create the greater good.

Keep that in mind, at work or at home. We need one other and nobody stands alone for long.

LEONARD GRAY is managing editor of L’Observateur. He may be reached at (985) 652-9545.