"I feel for you," my darling husband said last week, "your job puts you in weird situations."
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry out of frustration.
His statement was as part of our pillow talk and as it stood I had not one, but two native Trentonians acting crazy on me; one I had considered a friend, the other I had supported -- despite being told I was crazy to do so by others -- looking past his eccentricities because I believed he really cared about Trenton. This was the reason I had endured his ranting posts on my personal Facebook page.
But I recently decided I'm through with that.
Here's the issue: I suppose that I'm considered a "public figure". I came to Trenton as a public official, accepting an appointment as the Director of the Division of Economic Development at the City of Trenton in January 2005. I was hopeful and, I'll admit, I had a little Pollyanna in me. In the 19 months I worked at City Hall I learned a lot -- but I saw a lot too. Like how people say that if you see how sausage is made you won't want to eat it? That's city government. So when in September 2006 I was approached about the position as Executive Director at the nonprofit that manages the city's downtown special improvement district I jumped at it without hesitation -- even though I was actually on maternity leave from City Hall and only 4 week postpartum at the time with my first child.
On October 30 of this year I will celebrate 4 years at the Trenton Downtown Association. We have a great staff that works diligently as we do our part to hasten Trenton's economic growth and development. I thought I left the craziness behind at City Hall, but now with two children I'm learning that between the public sector work I do and caring for family at home the idea of "life work balance" is a myth.
I hope you enjoy the journey as I try to navigate without going insane!
