The sun is shining. The road keeps winding through the prettiest country from Idaho to the Coast. I don't have anyone beside me. My troubles (kinda) behind me. I'm alive and I'm free - Oh, who wouldn't want to be me?
Those words do work for the tune. Trust me!
I am so thankful for the warm weather we've been having, for a low stress job, for money coming in (even though it goes out almost immediately!), supportive and encouraging friends, writing opportunities, potential horses in my future and hope in tomorrow.
Life has been up and down recently. Two days after my grandpa's funeral, I left again for Kentucky. This time for a friend's wedding (photos soon!). It was good to see her and other friends. Then I came back and started working again at Learning Palace. I finished my training days just before I left, so I came back to work as a regular team member.
While retail is not my "forever career", I am grateful for the work. My manager and coworkers are nice and the atmosphere doesn't drain me! The clientele are mostly teachers and parents. It is a friendly place to work. It can get harried sometimes, but nothing like Party Depot!
For example, we have a few play areas where children can keep themselves occupied while parents shop. This is great, but it encourages loitering. Lots of it. My favorite loiterers are the men who find a seat on one of our step stools or child size chairs, pull out the trusty iphone and sit there working on their thumbs muscles. Meanwhile, their adorable, monstrous children wreck havoc on the displays and play areas. In an attempt to draw the father's attention to present matters (like the two year old banging the Thomas Trains together in a potentially damaging way), I'll step up to him and with a smile ask, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
(Alert: This is my absolute FAVORITE response!)
"Oh, no. I'm not buying anything. We're just here while my wife shops at the market," he responds with a ho-hum smile.
Oh. I see.
Another harried moment was when the woman and her four little girls came in on the 100+ degree day. They were all dressed in swimsuits, each with various cover-ups, some covering more than others.
The rather large woman in a one piece swimsuit and shorts, no shirt, shoves the door open and bellows at my manger, "do you have a restroom? My girls have got to go!"
My 70-something year-old manager sighs and consents in her soft voice, "Yes. Let me get the key."
"My have girls have to go to the bathroom! Do you have one?" The lady demands.
"I said 'yes, I have to get the key' " reiterates my manager in a more firm voice before turning to me and instructing me to unlock it for them.
We have customer bathroom and we try to keep it only for customers. When it's children, we usually don't turn them away though.
"Oh - I didn't hear you," she says and then turns to follow me to the bathroom.
I unlock the door and the little girls shove past me. As soon as they are in, the door isn't yet shut, they scream, "Mom, turn on the light! It's dark!"
The next 5 or 10 minutes you hear the mom yelling at the kids in the bathroom and the kids yelling back. I tried not to hear what was said. One at a time, the girls come out. They are followed by a holler, "Go wait by the car!." None of the girls obey her. They find toys to mess with.
Finally they all are wrangled to the front door by mom and start leaving in an uproar. No acknowledgment or thanks. As the mom holds the door for the last child, I couldn't resist.
"You're welcome!" I hollered after them with a condescending smile and overly cheerful voice. The lady heard me. Looked surprised and responded with a rather quiet and almost confused sounding, "Thank you."
It was then that I noticed my manager looking surprised at me. She did not expect that from me, but she wasn't displeased either though! Ha!
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