Okay... So, maybe I was wrong. MAYBE. I'm rarely wrong, by the way, but when I am, I'm man enough to admit it. I was WRONG, so wrong! Wrong on a couple matters, actually. But, today, I'm only going to discuss one with you (because I'm still just a LITTLE hopeful that I'm wrong about being wrong on the second matter...).
You might have noticed a strange darkness looming over my last few posts. Discussing work, and whatnot. Those of you with a keen eye, or those who know me, or whatever, probably thought, "Man, Junebug's not happy at all these days!" And, you would be right. It's this whole job-thing, you know? I got frustrated, working at the grocery store. I was there for 3 years, and I started thinking, "I don't want to work here for the rest of my life!" So, I went out, searching for a change. SOMETHING to clear my head. I think I was having a midlife crisis, or something. I jumped on the first job opening I saw. Magic Mart. I, obviously, wasn't happy there. I only stuck around for 16 days. So, I went to this office job. Thing is, I wasn't happy there, either. I felt nervous all the time, like I was on the verge of screwing up some important documents, or something. And, then there were times when I'd just sit there, for hours at a time, with nothing to do... The grocery store might have been a little aggravating sometimes, but I was happy there! I had benefits. I had a two-week, paid vacation. I had friends. I knew how to do my job! So... Thursday, I was sitting there at my desk, wondering, "What the crap am I going to do, man?! I can't go back to the store now. It's too late. I'd be starting all over again from the bottom of the ladder. Part time. No benefits. No vacations." Then, as if by a sign from God, the phone rang. It was my store "Brother," Steve!!! He, basically, asked if I was happy there, in my office, and stuff like that. Then, he said something VERY interesting: "You know, you can come back here (at the store). You've not been terminated yet. You can come back with your full benefits, vacation, and everything. It'd be like you never left." I told him I'd think about it. But, there was really nothing to think about. A "No-Brainer," as the yuppies say. I went to the store the next morning, and told Jenny (the office lady) not to send my termination papers in, because I'M COMING BACK! Everyone tried to tell me that I was making a huge mistake, by quitting the store. I just wouldn't listen. I had to find out the hard way. So... This created a delimma. What about my office job?! I, nervously, told my boss. It was clear that I was a broken man... I told him that I'd stick with him for a couple more weeks, until he finds a suitable replacement. I have a lot of respect for him, and he's been really good to me in the time I've been there, so I wouldn't have it any other way. Yes, that meant 2 more weeks of being miserable, and nervous, and whatnot, but it won't be so bad, because, in the mean time, I'm going to work at the store a couple days a week. Just to keep me in the payroll system, and stuff. So, I'm hoping the happiness of being back with my GROCERY STORE FAMILY will kinda balance out the depression of being in that office. My first day back at the grocery store was yesterday. It felt SO GOOD! Everyone had a million questions for me, as if I'd been away on some distant journey, or something. And, in a way, I was! I told Steve something, jokingly, about my experiences... But, I was actually dead serious, if that makes sense. Heh. I said, "I've been trying to find myself. Soul searching. I couldn't find me anywhere!" And, that's very true. I feel horrible about the office job, and I'm truly sorry for my boss there, because I wasn't the person he thought I could be. But, if you're not comfortable at a job after 2 weeks, there's a good chance you never will be, and you'll probably just make things worse by staying. So, I'm very sorry. It just didn't FEEL RIGHT. At the same time, I'm VERY grateful for Steve, and the folks at the store for giving me a second chance. I've never felt so good about going to work, as I did yesterday, at the store. Yeah, it's frustrating sometimes, but I didn't know just how good I had it there, until I left. I have a whole new appreciation for my job now. As I told my grocery store pals, yesterday, "I went out into the real world, and I didn't like it a bit." I'm HOME! So, what if I DO end up working there for the rest of my life? Well... Maybe that's not such a bad thing. It definitely beats the alternative!
