| dy"> | | | | "good morning", or using their name. It's a job the |
| This week of Thanksgiving, take a moment to | | | | value of which is only noted in its absence. Let the |
| think about who makes it happen for you. | | | | receptionist call in sick one day, and everyone's |
| The world is full of Temistocle Solears, Antonio | | | | day is upset as jobs are shuffled, shifts are |
| Ghislanzonis, Henri Meilhacs, Jules Barbiers, Michael | | | | taken, or a temp is called in who doesn't know |
| Carres, Giuseppe Giacosas, Luigi Illicas, Renato | | | | anyone's name, extension or position. I've also |
| Semonis, Nicola Hayms, and Lorenzo da Pontes, | | | | heard people tell me they bought only from a |
| people we would all be grateful for if only we | | | | particular company because they just wanted to |
| knew their names. | | | | hear the receptionist's voice. Hmmm. |
| Who on earth are these people? you ask. | | | | I'm reminded of a sermon I heard one year. The |
| They were crucial partners in some of the most | | | | minister happened to be one of the most |
| lasting super-projects on earth: operas. | | | | prominent in the town I lived in. Yes, you would |
| Take Lorenzo da Ponte, for instance. It's arguable, | | | | say he was a "very important person," and one |
| but many would say the three greatest operas | | | | who received a lot of recognition. I don't even |
| ever written were Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro," | | | | know what the topic of the sermon was, I just |
| "Don Giovanni," and "Cosi fan tutte"; the only point | | | | tuned in when I heard something I needed to |
| of contention being in what order, but always the | | | | hear, as we often do. (Our brains are marvelous |
| Top Three. | | | | at that!) |
| Personally I prefer Verdi, but there's no question | | | | "The mayor's important," he was saying, " and so |
| these are supreme works of art. Consider for a | | | | is the lawyer, but what would catch your |
| moment, if you will, that the librettist for all three | | | | attention faster - if the mayor took a week off, |
| of these operas was Lorenzo da Ponte. Mozart | | | | or if your garbage collector did?" We all groaned |
| wrote the music, and Da Ponte wrote the words, | | | | and started squirming in our seats. Point taken. |
| and usually, in the creation of an opera, the words | | | | Take some time today to think about the person |
| are written first. | | | | who types your letters, unfreezes your |
| Among the operas Mozart wrote, these three | | | | computer, answers your phone, composes your |
| stand out, the three that he co-authored with da | | | | pleadings, bills your patients, hassles with the |
| Ponte, a name most of us have never even | | | | insurance company, updates your website, does |
| heard. Likewise, the gentlemen named above | | | | your laundry, or simply makes you smile - and |
| were librettists for Verdi, Bizet, Mozart, Strauss, | | | | thank them. |
| Gounod, Handel, Donizetti and Puccini. Even if | | | | It's a simple thing. |
| you're not an opera fan, I bet you've heard their | | | | You wonder why it isn't done more often. |
| names, and also the names of their operas: Aida, | | | | Excuse me now, I must go thank the little |
| Carmen, Madama Butterfly, Faust and Don | | | | sweetheart who manages my apartment |
| Giovanni, for instance. Wagner was the only opera | | | | complex. At least I think that's her title. All I know |
| composer who created both the music and the | | | | is her name is Janie and I just moved in, and she |
| lyrics. All the others were collaborations for which | | | | has held my packages, told me how to get to the |
| librettists were crucial. | | | | post office, forgiven me for being late with the |
| Whatever your job, it's likely there's at least one | | | | rent the first time (I thought I'd get a notice), let |
| person who does work for you, who you count | | | | the computer guys to set it up before I got here, |
| on, who is always there for you, or who makes | | | | handed me a freshly-baked cookie when I passed |
| you look good. How long has it been since you | | | | through, made a few copies for me free ... the list |
| acknowledged them? | | | | goes on and on. I'm going to let her know how |
| One of the most unsung heroes in any | | | | much I appreciate what she does? |
| organization is the receptionist. Everyone takes | | | | Now, who's on your list? They're waiting to hear |
| them for granted. I've seen people walk past a | | | | from you. |
| receptionist day-after-day without even saying | | | | |