Summer Sabbatical 2023
When the Sub Shop Closes
My summer sabbatical is over, and that means that we are under the gun for the start of the academic year. For my colleagues in Student Affairs/Student Services, I know that you had no ‘break’ and won’t ask you about it, however, I do hope you got some time for yourselves. For my colleagues on the Faculty, I hope that if you taught summer school things went smoothly and if you had time to recharge and reframe your courses, you didn’t spend the entire summer going down a rabbit hole of ChatGPT.
There was a lot of news in the #HigherEd world this summer, with campuses merging/closing and failure to merge and close; Florida and Texas keeping the news feeds dinging; and other miscellaneous head scratcher events, but I am going to spend a bit of time reflecting on one piece of local news in Metro-Boston. The closure of Mighty Subs in Needham, MA.
Mighty Subs was a small sub shop that made huge sandwiches. Their tag line was simple, “Our small is their large.” My first exposure to the epic sandwiches was when I worked at Babson College in Wellesley. A colleague dragged me there one summer day for lunch. I was hooked. It was not something that I could do every week … or month even (the carbs!), but it was a treat. When I started working at Mount Ida College in 2008 - I came to discover it was only 3.1 miles away from the amazing mom and pop owned business.
Each summer, I would surprise my office staff with an email, announcing that tomorrow would be “Mighty Subs Day”. This spiraled my administrative assistant, Donna into a complete fit of glee.
Donna was a stalwart member of the Mount Ida Community. Having worked as an admin for several offices, answered the switch board and other front line work since her arrival. Donna always arrived early to work. Her early arrival allowed for her to take part in her daily ritual, her morning walk around campus. The roadway was a one mile oval around the campus. Donna walked it twice in the morning and twice at night after the workday had ended. She used this time to greet students, staff and faculty; make note of facilities issues that need reporting, and her favorite activity, noting who was late and who left early from work. We were a small campus after all, and there were no secrets when it came to matters of clocking in and out - especially with Donna on the lookout.
Donna’s favorite day of the year was Administrative Assistant Day. We showered her with her favorite things, an Edible Arrangement, a gift, and of course a nice lunch out. She would scope out the menu for days prior to the lunch, making sure that she got the most bang for her boss’s buck. She always had a doggie bag at the end of the meal and that day’s lunch was that night’s dinner as well.
Her second favorite day of the year was “Mighty Subs Day.” She loved it. She got a large sub and the sandwich lasted her several meals. Because it was summer we always made sure to eat outside at a picnic table and enjoy the weather. When Mount Ida announced its closure in 2018, Donna said to me, “We won’t be able to have a Mighty Subs Day this summer.” I made sure that the final day of the campus operation was - indeed - a Mighty Subs Day. When I went to pick up a big box of subs, the shop owner said, “I am glad you got one more day in. You will be missed.” We all sat on the athletic field and joined our colleagues who brought their own lunches as well as some beer and wine and champagne and had our final Mighty Subs Day.
When I returned home from my “Summer Sabbatical,” I had a package in the mail from Donna. She had written me a handwritten note giving me an update on her grandchildren and a couple of Donna gifts. Some air fresheners for my closets and some handmade pot holders. She had found her old loom, and decided to get crafting. I had sort of expected that she would have sent me a mighty subs menu, just for the hell of it. Donna was always a bit of a pack rat.
There are small traditions that are so special that they fill your belly and your soul. I hope you have one of your own.
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Dr. Laura De Veau is Principal & Founder of Fortify Associates, LLC. Fortify Associates, LLC is unique in the higher education, not-for-profit, and public service market. They provide comprehensive workshops, program reviews and project management services with a combination of in-person and virtual delivery. Fortify Associates is committed to creating experiences that are unique to the needs and culture of each of their clients. Fortify Associates wants to elevate your organization and help you optimize your workplace. Dr. Laura De Veau also serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College.