A Past Birthday Gift To My Mom
Today is my mother’s birthday. Of course every October 21st is my mother’s birthday, but because of an event on this date six years ago, that particular October 21st comes to mind first.
At the time, I was at college in Ithaca, New York, far from my hometown of Phoenix. I was not only in school, but I was also working part time at a drycleaner a couple of evenings a week. Well, about 9 PM on October 21, 2006 I decided to call my mother and wish her a happy birthday from work. I’d sent her a card, kind of a mushy, sentimental card, to be exact, but I thought an impromptu call from work would be a nice gesture.
I’d already worked about three hours that evening and had yet to take a break. So I pulled out my cellphone and clicked in the home phone at my parent’s house. Mom answered (my father almost never does), and she seemed genuinely surprised and excited about my call. Well, I’d been on the phone for all of about forty-five seconds when my supervisor walked over and with a stern face, ordered me off the phone with some kind of waving hand gesture. I smiled politely, nodded, and gave an indication that I would hang-up in just a few seconds. Apparently for my boss, a few seconds was too long. He barked, “If that phone is not out of your hands in ten seconds, you can look for another job.”
I had worked at this place for about a month. During that month, I was not only paid a near minimum wage salary, but I had not missed one second of work. Yet, I was apparently not permitted to make a two minute phone call. I can’t be sure but it is possible that those very facts went through my head in a span of about three seconds. I do know it took but three seconds for me to become furious.
Without taking the cellphone away from my ear, I grabbed my jacket, walked over to the timeclock, punched-out, and then while glaring at my stunned supervisor, casually tossed the timecard onto the floor. I then turned and walked out the door.
When I stepped out into the parking lot, I grumbled to my mother something like, “Happy birthday Mom, I just now quit my job.” I then proceeded to fill her in on the details. At first my mother was in shock, but then she stared to giggle. A few seconds later I started to giggle too. A day or two later I began my search for another part time job.
I had never done anything so bold before, and I haven’t done anything like that since. But I guess it goes to show that you don’t mess with Katie… at least not on her mother’s birthday.
Happy Birthday Mom! (No, she doesn’t know I have a blog)
At the time, I was at college in Ithaca, New York, far from my hometown of Phoenix. I was not only in school, but I was also working part time at a drycleaner a couple of evenings a week. Well, about 9 PM on October 21, 2006 I decided to call my mother and wish her a happy birthday from work. I’d sent her a card, kind of a mushy, sentimental card, to be exact, but I thought an impromptu call from work would be a nice gesture.
I’d already worked about three hours that evening and had yet to take a break. So I pulled out my cellphone and clicked in the home phone at my parent’s house. Mom answered (my father almost never does), and she seemed genuinely surprised and excited about my call. Well, I’d been on the phone for all of about forty-five seconds when my supervisor walked over and with a stern face, ordered me off the phone with some kind of waving hand gesture. I smiled politely, nodded, and gave an indication that I would hang-up in just a few seconds. Apparently for my boss, a few seconds was too long. He barked, “If that phone is not out of your hands in ten seconds, you can look for another job.”
I had worked at this place for about a month. During that month, I was not only paid a near minimum wage salary, but I had not missed one second of work. Yet, I was apparently not permitted to make a two minute phone call. I can’t be sure but it is possible that those very facts went through my head in a span of about three seconds. I do know it took but three seconds for me to become furious.
Without taking the cellphone away from my ear, I grabbed my jacket, walked over to the timeclock, punched-out, and then while glaring at my stunned supervisor, casually tossed the timecard onto the floor. I then turned and walked out the door.
When I stepped out into the parking lot, I grumbled to my mother something like, “Happy birthday Mom, I just now quit my job.” I then proceeded to fill her in on the details. At first my mother was in shock, but then she stared to giggle. A few seconds later I started to giggle too. A day or two later I began my search for another part time job.
I had never done anything so bold before, and I haven’t done anything like that since. But I guess it goes to show that you don’t mess with Katie… at least not on her mother’s birthday.
Happy Birthday Mom! (No, she doesn’t know I have a blog)
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Comments
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It is a very liberating feeling to do a bold thing. You can learn a lot about yourself during that time. Good for you! Good luck on finding a better job with a more understanding boss.Posted 10-24-2012 at 03:33 PM by janine345
