November four years ago was a huge transition period in my life. The company I had worked for had officially merged with its competitor. I learned of the changes in June of that year. The changes that were made were not going to be in my best interest. I tried to embrace the change, but it was clear by now that I was done. Coming off of being hospitalized earlier that year, I would need something more sustainable and with better benefits. But, in the closing days I was able to count a few Rite Aids and work with those whom I had been used to seeing.
That month I had come across some great opportunities to socialize:
- I was able to celebrate the new Laurel Highlands Toastmasters club at a red carpet event held at the library in Connellsville.
- I had lunch with some of my friends from Cranberry High Noon after visiting their meeting.
- I was invited to a fun event with one of my close friends whose wedding I attended in the Spring.
Just after we merged and I was part of the Traditional crew, I began the process of applying for other jobs. This wasn’t the first time I was thinking of jumping ship at WIS. Three years earlier, I had become frustrated with the lack of help in the office and how I was being scheduled. I began to apply at various Giant Eagle locations including Eastgate and Irwin. I also applied at Hempfield.
Eventually, the special projects came to an end and I was happy at WIS again. However, I gave Giant Eagle the benefit of the doubt. When Eastgate called to schedule an interview after Thanksgiving, I went through with it and got the job. After about a month there, I went back to WIS in January 2019 and they welcomed me back with open arms.
It’s not that I didn’t want to work there, I just wasn’t ready to leave.
I put in applications at Giant Eagle and at Goodwill. I went through a good recruiting process at Giant Eagle, interviewing over the phone and online. I went to a job interview at the Goodwill in North Versailles. Both of these interviews took place the very same week. Other companies I looked at included Target and Wal-Mart, and I also thought about applying at Allegheny Health Network and Excela Health had retail not panned out.
That week that I did job interviews also saw me attend my final two work events at WIS. A Rite Aid in Mount Pleasant which was close to home. The final event was in Beaver County, a Rite Aid in Rochester. I remember being on break that morning and we talked about where I might end up. My former colleagues wished me the best. One thing that we should have done was a little get-together as we were pretty close in the last few years.
That ride home from Rochester on my unofficial last day was bittersweet.
So the bridge that I mention in the title of the blog could refer to my brief two week stint at RGIS. But, the upcoming Friendsgiving celebration is also a bridge as well. Plus, don’t forget the month of November as by this point I was between jobs without being unemployed. You make the call.
I got hired on by Giant Eagle. I took a little drive that afternoon through the Laurel Highlands and pulled over on top of the mountain to take the call.
The next day, I attended the Friendsgiving event. I bought a pumpkin bread kit which made two loaves and took one up to that party. Having been introduced to this new tradition, the feast was nontraditional. Peppermint Patty would have had her say and it wouldn’t have been pretty. We played a great game of Cards Against Humanity, and we ended the night by walking to the Johnstown Incline. I might have stayed a little longer than I should have but I still had a great time. It was hard for me to leave as I was around people who understood me at the time.
A few years later I went to another Friendsgiving but this one was in the South Side of Pittsburgh.
Finally, I did my training at Giant Eagle which took place during Thanksgiving week. I did the paperwork the first day. It was a Monday afternoon. Friday morning, just as we were recovering from eating turkey and pumpkin pie, was the training. I watched videos on OSHA, safe lifting, slip and trip, etc. After that, I got my schedule for my first week. These hours were going to take some getting used to.
Just as I began to find myself in 2021, I was going to have to take some time to get reestablished. But, this new era in my life was beginning.
Stylish 🍒 