Revenge of the Cards

Finally got to work in my Hallmark aisle. But I was also working at Register One, Cosmetics, and Photo at the same time. I opened up a displayable Halloween card too vigorously and it popped up and hit me in the nose. And yes, there is a mark.

I very much like the newest girl.

The Neglected Aisle

I'm feeling kind of bad about how I left my Hallmark aisle. I was supposed to put up the Halloween and other Fall holiday cards several days ago. I mentioned that to a few managers, and today was the day I was finally able to make some progress. Part of my not getting it done was my fault, though. I forgot about putting up the new stuff, then I would remember it at inopportune times. How did the woman before me get all this done? Besides being an O.G, she was scheduled exclusively for the Hallmark aisle, which means she didn't spend a lot of time in other departments or helping customers. (I do both those things on a regular basis.) I have tommorow off, and right now half my aisle is missing merchandise. I'm sure I will have a ton of complaints waiting for me. But perhaps it will put pressure on my managers to let me in the aisle on Tuesday. The other thing I'm worried about is snapping at my mangers if/when they tell me to fix my aisle. I will try keep my comebacks to myself, remain chipper and agreeable...instead of informing them that I need to be allowed to work in that aisle more often, I need to be allowed to read the Hallmark emails, and I need time to reorganize my space in the back. On the upside, I love my cards.

100 Years

A regular of mine who hasn't been in in awhile came in today. He is a shrinking, wrinkly, hard-of-hearing, a WWII vet, and a shouter. He calls me "young lady" and he is usually hilarious and difficult. Today he came to my register, put his stuff on the counter, looks me in the eyes and says,
"The first 100 years are the hardest."
 I couldn't help but laugh. And agree. 

The Funeral. And Smoking Pot

Today was your funeral. I think it finalized what happened was real. I wanted to go, but I was at work. We miss you, and there are some sweet pictures surfacing on facebook. A lot of people are asking me about you; and how everyone you left at the store are doing.

A woman walks up to the ATM and asks if she can get change for the twenty.
"Sure."
"Does your piercing go all the through or is it just through the top part of your lip?",
she asks as she stands to the side of my register waiting until my transaction was done. I pull my ring down to show her that it goes all the way through.
"That's the kind of ring I want."
"Yeah, I like it. It's the easiest to deal with."
She was about to say something else when a woman with a brown and black print dress walks by and says,
"Do you have security here?"
"Uhh, why?"
"Because there are people smoking marijuana in the parking lot."
"Ok, let me, uhh..."
I trailed off because right then the woman who wanted change freaks out.
"Bitch! Why you gotta worry about what other people are doing?! It's not like this is your store! You don't own the muthafucking air around here! Why you gotta tell on someone like that!?"
"This is my store because its' in my neighborhood! I don't want that activity going on here."
At this point, I already called the store manager to the front. The woman who apparently didn't want the change anymore had already left and the other woman wanted us to call the cops. Everyone in line was started by the reaction of the change-getting woman. I wasn't, because it was obvious that she was getting the money to purchase whatever was being used out in the lot.

Schedule Mix-Ups

Because of what happened, several people have not been coming in. Which is reasonable. But the new people we've had to call in are kind of useless. I'm finding it hard to enjoy work and my coworkers.

I was super-hostile and full of anger today. I hope I can push through that.

Seriously?

I bought a card for you, and it is in the office waiting to get signed by everyone so we can give it to your parents. They came in today and had photos of you printed. Like she said, I hope it looks good down here from paradise.

I always have a jacket, hoodie or sweater on my cart. Today I had my only maternity hoodie, and I had to grab it out of this woman's hands. She picked up my goddamn hoodie, and seemed to be looking through it. When I snatched it from her, I angerly said,
"Can I help you with something? Why did you pick up my stuff?"
In accented English she says,
"I was looking for Kleenex."
"Well, not in my jacket."
Then she has the nerve to get short with me. After he fussing about finding Kleenex, (or not finding it), I reluctantly and angerly walk her to the aisle. A few minutes later I see her at the front register asking for help. Thank god one of my favorite coworkers was working and he helped her. Sort of. The nerve of some people.

We Miss You

I hope you know how much we will miss you.
You trained me on my first day. We bonded over managers we didn't like. We had a lot of hilarious and non-work related conversations.
You always made me laugh. I think the last time I saw you, you made me laugh was when you were making fun of me for buying and carrying too much stuff to my car. I dropped a jar of salsa, and you yelled
"Ma'am! I think you dropped something!"
and I erupted into a fit of giggles.
You always called me "ma'am" and it made me feel old. I told you to stop and you never did.
I got mad at you for being late and forgetting my breaks and getting distracted by hot girls. You would ask if I was for real mad, and if I really hated you, and I of course responded no. Because it was hard to stay mad at you.
Sometimes when you rung people up, you would make these crazy faces at them when they weren't looking. And again, I would erupt into giggles.
We talked about serious stuff too.
We always had a lot of fun working together.
I could always count on you to like my fragrance. And when I needed a compliment, I could count on you to give me one.
I very much enjoyed working with you. I wish I knew you better, but what I did know about you, I liked. Of course, there will forever be unanswered questions. 
We miss you so much. And I hope you know that.