Ordinary Jobs, Extraordinary Women

We all know who they are- women we come into contact with on a regular basis who do their jobs with equal measures of skill and goodwill and thus help to make our lives easier.

They do ordinary jobs extraordinarily well and get little, if any, thanks or acknowledge-ment. This column is dedicated to four such women in our community.

Lynn at the bank

I'm not sure about Lynn's current job title but it really doesn't matter. I have followed her to three different banks--she's that good. There's not a question I have or a request that I have made that she doesn't deal with in a pleasant and competent manner. Sometimes I think if I asked her to come home with me and rearrange things she would do that, too, but I don't want to push my luck.

Perhaps her degree in anthropology has made her especially sensitive to human beings in this culture because she has a knowledge of many others, but whatever it is, she is a jewel.

Unflappable, friendly and thoroughly professional, she is a real asset to her bank, First Private Bank and Trust in Westlake Village, and would be to any business that employed her.

Frances at the

doctor's office

My doctor, Orlin Michelle Liberman, MD,is a great combination of competence and confidence so I know she won't mind my saying that half the reason I go to her Westlake Village office is because Frances is her assistant. In fact, she would probably agree with me.

We have all dealt with front office people in medical facilities who treat us with disdain, barely acceeding to any request, whether it is to make an appointment or call in a prescription.

Frances is the opposite. She returns calls quickly, makes appointments efficiently and calls in prescriptions as rapidly as teenagers drive.

In addition she adds a bit of spice to the office with her colorstreaked hair and exudes a sweetness and caring which is extremely rare anywhere. She and my doctor are an unbeatable combination.

Brenda and Anna

at the dentist's office

My dental office is truly blessed with the women on its staff. They are all great and I wish I could mention each and every one of them. But, in the interest of space and bored readers, I'll stick to only two.

If there were an Oscar given for dental hygienists, Brenda would win it hands-down. In addition to her technical skill, she is very caring and concerned for her patients in a way that goes far beyond the clinical setting. Judging from her office photos, she also has two adorable little girls.

Anna does the billing for Conejo Dental Group in Newbury Park, and if you think that kind of job precludes involvement and concern, guess again. Her dedication has actually saved me a substantial amount of money and

has allowed me to understand my bills-a rare occurrence, considering the strange jargon of the medical and dental industry.

There's nothing glamorous or exciting about these jobs or these women. The don't receive plaques or bouquets or even enough thanks for what they do.

So I'm writing this column as a "certificate of appreciation" to all of them and to all of the other women like them for doing ordinary jobs in an extraordinary way.

Contact Adler at dinaadler@yahoo.com.