Fabulous First Day

At the end of January, we were told that the store I had been working in for 2 1/2 years was closing. February 28 was to be the last day. The news was met with some questions, but generally I assumed I would be OK. Either I would continue with the company in another store, or I would find another job.

I was asked to work in one of the two store in Grand Central Terminal. Anyone who knows me even a little bit, knows how much I love New York City. Technically, I am not a New Yorker, but I get all of the benefits at half the cost. I think that's a pretty good deal. I worked at a couple stores at Rockefeller Center during the holidays, and that was really exciting. When I got the call that I would be going to Grand Central, my exact words were, "That's like a promotion!" I waited out the last couple of weeks in Jersey City, sad to see the store go and knowing that I would miss those customers I have written about before, but terribly excited about the opportunity to work not only in New York City, but at Grand Central Effin' Terminal!

The dumpster arrived at the mall last week. We had to cart out everything- every shelf, every card rack, every piece of glass (and there are a LOT of those in a card shop.) By Saturday evening, the dumpster was filled. Sunday was the last day for everyone to work, and it was just a clean-up day. All the cards and product that was not sold was destroyed. All the remaining "things" went out. By the time we all left on Sunday afternoon, the store was empty and the dumpster was overflowing.

Monday, the only thing left to do was make a couple trips to the mall dumpster and wait for the IT guys to show up to ship the registers back to the corporate office. Easy day, then the store was wrapped.

This morning, I got up bright and early. I was supposed to be at Grand Central by 10:30. I got up at 7:00, just to make sure there was plenty of time. I got to the store and things went well. I talked to the assistant manager, Luis, who met me there about schedules, codes, where the bank is...all those things that I needed to know on my first day. I offered to go to the store room and bring up some back stock, and that's when it happened. John, the district manager, called me. He said that the dumpster was too full and that the trash people would not take it until it was leveled off. I had to get to the mall as soon as possible, and smooth things over with mall management.

I arrived at the mall and talked to the assistant manager of the mall, and we worked out a plan. When the other dumpster arrives, probably tomorrow, I would be back to work on cleaning up the mess. I have since learned that the second dumpster should be at the mall by 6 AM. That will make for an early morning.

I called John back and told him the plan and asked him if I should go back to the City. He was a little hesitant to have me pay for the train twice in one day, so I told him I have an unlimited monthly pass. When he heard that, he said, "Well, get back over there, then!" I had lunch and then had to run an errand, but made it back to Grand Central by 2:30 or so.

At around 3:30, I went on my paid break. There's a bookstore three doors down, so that's dangerous. At 6 PM, I went to lunch. I spent the whole thirty minutes at the MTA museum annex at Grand Central. The exhibit there is about the old Penn Station on the other side of town. There were a couple of references to Grand Central in the display, and when I realized that I was standing in the very building mentioned in this exhibition, I stood in awe. My problem with this location will be that I only have 30 minute breaks at a time, so it will take forever to explore that whole building. Don't think I won't.

The customers at Grand Central are different, too. Most seem to be pleasant but rushed. They are, after all, trying to catch a train most of the time. During the course of one conversation, I discovered a lady who had never heard the phrase, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." I have a lot to teach these New Yorkers.

There was another lady who, when she walked in and I smiled at her and asked how she was doing, said, "You have such a nice smile in here!" Or the lady who was dancing to a song, and, when I mentioned that she must have had a good day, responded with, "I'm going to rehearsal. I'm going to sing some Bach. After a day of practicing law, singing Bach is like, ahhhh."

"Some people have a drink, and some people rehearse Bach," I said. She smiled and agreed. It's gonna be fun. I knew it would be. So far, I am right.