Ten years ago, part one

The other day I stopped by the place of my first employment, the Big K[mart]. I was sixteen when my parents decided that I needed a job, so I applied at numerous big box stores [was really hoping for Best Buy]. The Big K had just opened [December of ninety-seven] and was hiring a ton of people, perhaps too many people. I was immediately hired as a cashier, but I spent the first few months of work rounding up shopping carts in the snow, mopping up dropped slushies and cleaning restrooms. It sucked. I managed to survive the February-retail-slowdown-cuts and get placed on a register. I lasted there most of that year, and ended up chatting with the toy and seasonal manager who talked me into working for her.

Working in the toy department may sound like some joyous thing to some of you, but I can assure you that it isn't. Consider that hordes of children are wandering through the aisles all hours of the day, picking up toy after toy and putting them down where they don't belong. Not to mention adults who are doing the same, especially in regards to collectibles such as Hot Wheels. In terms of retail, it's a fairly difficult department to keep up with.

I ended up staying at the Big K, and in that department, off and on until the summer of two-K. I grew fairly close to my manager, and together we kept the toy department running smoothly - we worked remarkably well as a team. In my first full year of employment, ninety-eight, I was awarded part-time employee of the year. I'm still amazed by that, and still think it to be quite an accomplishment considering that I was just seventeen. I developed a lot of people skills there, not to mention learning to endure in frustrating work environments [retail is not for everyone]. I understand what it's like in that sort of place, and that's partly why I treat retail workers kindly, because I know how tough it can be and how they are often treated quite poorly.

Thinking about this brought back a lot of memories and feelings. It provoked this thought, which I shall leave you with: I'm not sure that I will ever truly feel like an adult while living so near to where I have grown up. Do you resonate with that? Do you disagree? Please, discuss. you have my love.