Customer Service

Life is good. Today, for the first time, I worked customer service.

Up to now I have been working the cash register. Not that the cash register is bad. I like it. I like talking to all the customers, I like seeing the wide range of books that people buy. But there is a lot more to working in a bookstore then just ringing up purchases. And I was ready to do of that more. I had the chance to do much of that from 5:30 until 9:00 this evening. I found books, ordered books , put away books, answered questions and walked my little fat feet off.

Julie and Julia

This afternoon I finished reading "Julie and Julia - A Year of Cooking Dangerously". It's the story of Julie Powell deciding to spend a year cooking all the recipes in Julia Child's cookbook "Mastering the Fine Art of French Cooking". Julie wrote a great book. She is funny, foul mouthed and had something to say about courage and finding a place in your own life. The book resonated with me. One of the many reasons it did is she talked about how much she loved her husband. I liked that. I love myhusband and like it when other people love theirs. I like seeing strong marriages survive and become stronger.

I was so interested in her life I wanted to see what happened next. I googled her. It was a mistake. A big mistake. She is divorced and remarried. I almost feel like she divorced me.

Alright, I know she has a right to live her life anyway she wants too. I know the book was a version of her life that she wanted to make public. But dang I liked her marriage.

I've Been Thinking

Hey there is always a first time.

I've been thinking about status and employment. I've been thinking that most days I really enjoy my low paying, low on the totem pole, stand on my feet all day job; even though (or maybe especially though) it is a clerical job with an emphasis on personality instead of technical knowledge and skill. I like meeting people, I like chatting, I like my co-workers, I like getting out of the house, I like being surrounded by books. I even like standing on my feet all day long and coming home bone tired. Even though I love the job I feel guilty because I am not making better use of my abilities.

I've been thinking that really there aren't that many differences between working for the government or working for private industry. In both places you work with people you connect with and people your don't. In both places there are bosses who are people oriented and bosses who are power oriented. In both places the customers are the reason for our existence and the bane of our existence.

I've been thinking that the more the job matters to us the more it matters that we matter to the job.

I've been thinking that people are who they want to be and that people who allow power to corrupt themselves don't have much to themselves.

I've been thinking that I'm glad I retired.

I've been thinking that I miss some wonderful people from my good government job.

I've been thinking that it is time for me to think about substitute teaching so I can use my mind and be with kids.