I am one of two daytime workers in the shoe department, though not full-time.  After some thinking I have realized that among the people who I work with on a daily basis, I am one of the oldest.  At the end of this month I will be a quarter of a century old.  I used to not think that was very old until I was hired at this particular place.  I think there are benefits to this.  The managers can better see my potential if I’m not surrounded by people who are much more mature in age, knowledge and experience than I am.

I guess that means I shouldn’t have to work very hard.  And really, I don’t have to.

I am one of those people who strives to take pride in all that I do, even if that means I have to be proud of working retail in the mall.

Here’s my first rant:  It drives me crazy when people makes snide remarks about people who don’t have highfalutin careers and can’t gloat on their six-digit salaries. 

“Oh him?  Did you know he’s 35 and lives with his mother and has two jobs.”
Well at least he has a job and isn’t just mooching off of his mother.
“Did I mention he’s [substitute some age over 25]?”

I’m sure you don’t know his life story.  Goodness knows just about everyone there knows my business and why I am working there.  I think I receive a lot more pity than I do sympathy.  I was spoiled and worked for someone in my extended family for over 3 years, being paid much more than I was qualified (though given the work I was doing, I do believe I deserved more than I was qualifed for).  That employer did not pay his employees what he should have and my spouse and I had to live off of credit cards on practically no pay for well over a year.

working for no pay + credit cards = tremendous debt + miserable credit score

I was trying to be loyal and stick by this employer, as it was a family business.  But who in their right mind would willingly and knowingly destroy the lives of his/her son and daughter just to save money?  A selfish con-man, that’s who.    So  we finally gathered up whatever nerve we had left and found jobs elsewhere.

I was interviewed several times.  I knew people were interested in hiring me.

My poor credit score kept me from being hired by all of my preferred jobs.  I know I’m trustworthy.  But they don’t know me.  And that’s okay.  I understand.

Oh yeah…pitiful life story.  On top of that, my husband and I separated over 6 months ago and have 1 child and another on the way.  We are slowly getting things back in order, but for now I live with my parents and have over an hour commute to and from work 4 to 6 days per week.

This job was the last one I wanted, but I am ever so thankful to have it when I knew they could have turned me down just like the others.  I can only hope that they are also thankful to have hired me, as I work as hard as I can and take pride in my job, even if other people scoff at me because it isn’t anything glamorous.

I enjoy helping people.  Being told by a customer that she hasn’t been treated in a long time with so much kindness and patience as I have given her makes my day probably more than I made hers.  I could have a day full of rude customers and grumpy coworkers and one comment like that can reverse everything negative for that day and possibly even longer.

The fact is, what I do is a thankless job and much of my good works and all that I do to go above and beyond what I am required seemlingly goes unnoticed.  I say seemingly because my last review was spectacular.  While I didn’t think anyone was paying attention, someone clearly was…even if part of it was generated by computer.

While I am still employed at this company, I will continue to do my best and I can only hope that with time, I will be properly rewarded.

Hopefully soon with full-time status, at least.  Please?

I guess I should wrap this thing up.  I worked until close tonight and have to be back at work again to open in more than a few hours.

See ya.

Anyway, I will do more of an introduction later.  For now I would just like to say that one of my co-workers and friends recommended that I watch “Twilight”, the movie.  I bought  and watched it on iTunes tonight with the hope that I would like it and it would be worth the $15 so I can watch it repeatedly.

All I can say is this:  Woah.  Man.  I wish someone would look at me as intensely as he did and that kiss?  I won’t even touch on that.  I don’t need to.  Anyone who has seen it, well, they just know what I’m already thinking.

Now I must retire to bed so I can return to work bright and early in the morning.

See ya.