Merry Christmas and Blessings for the coming New Year!
Last night I left at the end of my shift at Macy's absolutely euphoric. I got through another Christmas shopping season - one that I went into deeply depressed and burned out. I had greeted the first few weeks crying almost every day. I snapped and snarled at my co-workers. My husband was on the verge of taking me to the hospital. That's how bad it was. But, last night. Christmas Eve. It was done. I sang "White Christmas" at the top of my lungs as I left the building. (Keep in mind, I can't carry a tune in a bucket.) My manager and our store vice president joined me in song. I couldn't tell you if they sang on key - I was busy drowning them out. I probably caused some ears to bleed. I probably cracked some glass somewhere. But I didn't care. Eight Christmases at Macy's. I made it.
During the holiday shopping season, my hours usually increase quite a bit. I sometimes end up working 7 to 9 days straight with no break. This year was dramatically different. We went into the season severely short-staffed and the 90 or so seasonals we hired quit as fast as they came through the door. The tiny handful that stayed really weren't enough to provide coverage for everyone else. We had 15 call-offs on one day alone. That was felt painfully by the staff as well as customers.
This year the scheduling gods reached out to all employees earlier than usual (September) to ask that we clear our calendars. This meant full time employees had to give up their assigned one day off a week. Many of us were furious. My manager assured me that I would still have two days off a week, but not the day I had always planned. Once the holiday schedules rolled out, I thought there must have been a mistake. I had every Saturday in December off. Plus two Sundays. How did I get that?! Not complaining - I thought this was great! Now I can actually enjoy the holidays and do holiday stuff with the rest of the world on the weekend. Like normal people. I contacted my manager to make sure this wasn't some joke. She told me she had no control over the schedules, but if I would be willing to pick up shifts on some of those Saturdays, she would appreciate it. I joked with her that I was her favorite. I gleefully enjoyed having Saturdays off, but my hours didn't increase exponentially like the past.
Well, I toured a historic house in Florissant that was decked out for the holidays. My husband and I went to St. Charles to watch the Christmas parade on Main Street. We made time to put some pine boughs on my father-in-law's grave. And another Saturday found me sleeping all day in the recliner.
Customers were about the same, though. Cranky, crabby and demanding. One customer, after buying only two items, demanded 10 boxes. I politely explained our store policy of only one box per item purchased. He got mad. "Ah come on, lady! I got all these presents to wrap." Yeah, dude, you and everybody else. I gave him a total of seven boxes, but I know he went to other registers and made the same demands. Another customer came up to me and asked about plus sized women's underwear. I asked what size she wore. He said, "I don't know. Her butt is this big" and spread out his hands to just past his hips. Why me? Then, we have the customers who seem to think they are in a bar and toss their credit cards at me while ordering their purchase. So tempted to ask if they want a beer chaser.
We hosted the family Christmas dinner this year. Since there's only five of us, this was no big deal. However, this year, we pulled out most of the stops on decorations. This was the most decorating we have done in over five years. I cooked for three days. The boys and I cleaned the house. I even folded napkins to look like Christmas trees. The menu was larger than we have had in a few years. Turkey, corn bread, green beans, sweet potato casserole, twice baked potato casserole, cranberry jello salad, broccoli grape salad, and banana cream pie for dessert.
Tonight I'm reflecting on all that is around me. I think my relatives who have passed away would have been proud of me. I hope my kids are proud of me. I believe this Christmas was extraordinary.
Merry Christmas!!!
