Friday is my last day of work, before retirement. As is traditional around here (and anyway I want to) I am sending out a final farewell email through Outlook.
I am considering putting this on the subject line:
“So long, and thanks for all the fish.”
I recognize there will be some unknown number of people who won’t get the reference. Is this too esoteric and weird? The rest of the message is quite nice, if I say so myself. I don’t want to put people off right at the outset, though.
So, do you think this would work, or should I use something else? If something else, what is your suggestion?
Throughout your career, did you in fact acquire a goodly supply of fish? Enough to retire on?
And did you co-workers get enough fish too? If not, your sentiment might seem gloating or boastful. They might get resentful. You might be forced to spend your retirement as a potted petunia.
As a subject line, yes, it’s esoteric and weird. In the body of the mail, it would be okay, if you add some context. You should respect the feelings of the people who won’t get it. Not everybody reads the same books you do. Nobody likes to feel confused, and nobody likes to feel that they are missing out on a joke, or being made fun of because they don’t understand something.
These are co-workers, not a clique of close friends.
So add the context:
type ''As Douglas Adams would say, “so long and thanks for the fish”. "
That will still leave some people asking "who is Douglas Adams?–but at least they will know that the expression is obviously a quote, and not some in-joke about office politics which they have been missing out on for years.
*After 30 years with this firm, I believe I have finally discovered who moved my cheese and where the rotten so-and-so put it. Again.
When making this discovery in the past, I have made the mistake of simply requesting that my cheese be delivered to me. This practice has not worked to my benefit.
Therefore, as of today, I am embarking on a quest to retrieve my cheese for myself. If I am never seen at this firm again, you may safely assume that I have successfully recovered my cheese, and have repaired to my home to eat it.
I wish all of you every success in your own cheese-finding endeavors.
Agree–note the difference between an ***allusion ***and a reference.
An allusion excludes those unfamiliar with the source, while a reference includes everyone:
From Allude - definition of allude by The Free Dictionary
Usage Note: *Allude *and *allusion *are often used where the more general terms *refer *and *reference *would be preferable. *Allude *and *allusion *normally apply to indirect references in which the source is not specifically identified: “Well, we’ll always have Paris,” he told the travel agent, in an allusion to Casablanca. *Refer *and reference, unless qualified, usually imply specific mention of a source: I will refer to Hamlet for my conclusion: As Polonius says, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” See Usage Note at refer.
I don’t think this question can be answered without some knowledge of your workplace demographics. Is it populated by erudite hipster geeks like us? Or by uptight stuffed shirts stiffs? Or by saggy-drawered, backward-hat slackers? That would make all the difference how many people “get it.”
That said, I’d still do it if it amused me. Who cares how many people get it?
I think you should definitely use that line in your farewell message. You could include a link to the opening credits/theme song from the movie as well.
If the people who you are sending it to know you and like you, then they should get it, and like me, find it amusing. The rest of them probably don’t care either way.
I’ve decided to use it, but with an asterisk, and with the reference explained at the end of the email. I think that changes it from an allusion to a reference, and won’t have some people feeling left out. Thanks, everyone, for your input.
In 2006 when I and a lot of other people left Paramount, I used “Good Morning” as my subject line and at the said “Good Morning, and in case I don’t see you, good afternoon, good evening and good night.”
I also worked in a lot of other quotes.
