A realization, originally posted 2.1.07

February 1, 2007 - Thursday

A REALizATION Alrighty, I have been a member of the workforce since I was 13. Yes- years in between now and then I was not employed- but it was at 13 that I held my first job as Kindergarten TA for the Sunday school class at my synagogue. At 13 I didn't mind pouring juice and wiping snot for the tot's, I liked creating art projects and getting a healthy yummy snack ready for the little nuggets. I tend to refer to children under the age of 6 by small food items and pop able candy- like goobers, and raisenetts (blame it on my father). A few years went by, and after my move at 15 years old from the west to the east coast, I started working at the Greater Hartford JCC as an after school care provider- K-5. Now, this was a little more challenging- homework- cranky kids after school- this one Six year old who always smelled like shit (and I mean shit, literally he smelled like poo- ok enough of that). I did that for a while, worked for my father for a summer in his office- mostly stuffing envelopes and making drops of legal papers and other crap. I worked retail at Pottery Barn- so I learned how to BS customers into thinking I knew what I was talking about- I mean who really needs to know the entire Pottery Barn lighting department? I also became the fastest on returns at the register in PBWestfarms history. After I graduated I started working as a cater waiter and bartender for Café Louise out of New Britain, CT. I continued to work for her during my winter and summer breaks- this was awesome- great tips and usually a bottle or two of wine from the host if they liked my shining personality and winning smile. I tried to work during the year, but not only did I have little patience for the Pottery Barn manger who was a TOWERING 6 foot 2 Asian man that yelled at me for no reason, but I had little time. With all my rehearsals and reading, class work- and oh yeah DRINKING- I just couldn't cut it- plus- the asshole pottery barn manager- just proved to me (maybe the first in a long line of firsts) that you can never go back again. This is where it all began- seriously- this is where my negative feeling towards authority figures and bosses made a wrong turn. When I graduated (on time) from college- I began looking for jobs- it took me 6 months to find a waitressing job at a local family owned pizza parlor. I began to laugh when I just wrote that- forgive me. I got this job through my best friend and roommate at the time Donna, after I went through training and learned the pyramid of authority at the Restaurant, things began to get more difficult. I was constantly berated by the owners and managers (owner's sons) for mistakes made by the kitchen and the elderly patrons who frequented the establishment. Not that I didn't make mistakes on my own- they happen- but this constitutes being a little out of control. I got hit on by members of the mob (well, I can't say that for sure but-you know- it was Queens New York) and after two years it became unbearable. So I gave two weeks notice and left after one. I began another job search while working part time for the Manhattan JCC as an after school care provider (again)- no issues there. Just kids with control issues, ADD, attitude and money (truly a winning combo- I dare say) and part time with Restaurant Associates- a large catering corporation where they referred to you by number. I finally landed a job as a receptionist with a small boutique real estate firm for shit money and no perks. They paid me under the table, I worked 8:30 am to 6:00 pm rarely if ever took a lunch break, and dealt with a President/Vice President-Husband/Wife team. I worked, I hated being told what to do, but I did have fun most of the time- miscommunication- no clarity in the position, and agents who never worked the right way made it difficult. I moved up the ladder quickly, from reception to office assistant/personal assistant- to Office Administer in about a year. They expanded had two offices- and I was there for all of it. I grew with the company- I cared about the people. I made a wonderful group of friends- BUT I hated my job. I decided to move…cross country. They were sad to see me go, threw me going away parties, and gave me an amazing farewell. I arrived back on the west coast after about 11 years- ready to make a change. I did- from Real Estate to film production. Yet still, everyday-realizing that as a rule, I don't really like being told what to do. So, as I sit here- at my new(ish) job. I think, what am I going to do when I grow up?