This time of year reminds me of a few years ago, as one of the longtime eras of my life was soon coming to an end. Changes occurred in the fall when my former employer merged with its competitor. After much speculation, I learned of my assignment. Despite an attempt to embrace change, things weren’t going to work in my favor.
At the end of October, we celebrated our last day as office 3609. Halloween, a new era would begin. We became a new office and I had to learn a whole new machine. I promised myself I’d try and make it work. At the same time though, I was spent and that week I began to apply at other companies.
The first few days were RGIS stores and the hours once again were inconsistent. 5-6 my first day, two my second day, another five or six a few days later. At least I ended my first week with people I was familiar with as well as a store I knew like the back of my hand. The first morning was the hardest but it passed pretty quickly. My best day was a CVS out in the North Hills. Some of our Rite Aids we trained people from RGIS so they got done fast. My days were soon to be numbered.
I applied at Giant Eagle and Goodwill, and thought about Target and Walmart if those first two didn’t work out. I also planned on looking into the hospitals (Excela and AHN) if retail didn’t pan out. I got called to do job interviews at the first two, and did an online interview with a recruiter. I went in person to Goodwill in North Versailles. If I had gotten hired there, I’d be working in Lawrenceville now. I got the call from Giant Eagle a week before Thanksgiving while on the road and I accepted the job. Next week will be my three year anniversary with Giant Eagle.
My last weeks at WIS, besides interviewing and applying for jobs, saw me attend a Cranberry High Noon Toastmasters meeting and have lunch with friends. I also attended a red carpet event for a new Toastmasters club in Connellsville which I actually joined a few months later. I also planned for a Friendsgiving event at my (non-blood) sister’s place in Johnstown. I also looked ahead to the future and whatever may happen. I was down to my last five stores and they were all Rite Aids, which I’d done for many years.
Those Rite Aids flew by and pretty soon, though it was unofficial, I’d be working at my last inventory that Wednesday a week before Thanksgiving. It was an easy day as most had been lately. I worked with a great crew and looked ahead to working at either Giant Eagle or Goodwill. I did my last tag, wished my crew the best, and left before Noon that day. That drive down I-376 past Robinson and all the stores I’d counted for so many years felt so bittersweet. It was truly the end of an era.
I was in my Friendsgiving Era that Saturday with my adopted sisters. We had fun. We did each other’s makeup (a precursor to Sara’s next job at Sephora). We played Cards against Humanity. We ate my pumpkin bread that I made. It hurt me to leave that night because my fashionable sister understands me.
I cleaned myself up and went to orientation Monday at Giant Eagle where I signed papers. The day after Thanksgiving I did training and got my schedule for my first week of work. As I got home from training on Black Friday, my parents were getting ready to decorate the house for Christmas.
A new era was about to begin and it would be one where I’d be close to home.
Stylish 🍒 