My Father's Shoes

It all begins on Wednesday night- after my 3 hour class that I had to go to just in case I decide not to drop it I came home- went to visit a friend for a minute- came back to the apartment around 12AM. I decided I was going to go to bed...about 2 hours later I get worken up from a text.

This said text message gave me a lot to think about- not about the actual message itself- but just about life and people- not to mention a few of the weighing thoughts running through my head- you know, with graduation, interning, everything right around the corner. I get nervous, anxious and even scared when I am about to start a new job or phase in my life. Well, the semester started off with a not so fabulous bang.

When I finally fell asleep Thursday morning at 7AM (too angry to blog at that point) I woke up 2 hours and 50 minutes later and 50 minutes late. I had to be at a "Meet and Greek" at 11AM. Let me tell you about this "Meet and Greek" - the rules are so strict we really cannot talk to the potential new members coming by, we awkwardly answer their questions while other sororities are "hawk-eyeing" to make sure we aren't saying anything such as "Pledge X" Which that isn't even the right terminology but for all of you Greek illiterates out there- I hope it points you in the direction I am trying to go.

Let me back up though- So I have black nice shorts (those are the only shorts I have) because I have large thighs and I don't like to show them off particularly. The only letter shirt that was clean and that I could find was a black one. So the shorts were out. I threw on jeans, rushed out the door and went on campus where everyone and their mom (literally) were parked. I have magenta- Sally (my car) upgraded this year- magenta covers oh, about 85% of campus. I drive around to 3 LOTS that are all full- people are actually parked on the curb. So then foolishly hoping there is room on the lot across campus (Hello, Junior year walking a mile to class) I realize - there in fact are not any spots available- anywhere on campus. So Sally cuddles up to the first available curb and off I run to Meet and Greek.

This is the scene- It has just poured- It has that overly sunny- beating down- humidity- heat index of 150 degrees and Meet and Greet is convieniently outside. There is just enough wind to keep knocking over the philanthropy board on our table and everything else but not enough to actually be cooled down and feel good. I am developing a sweat-stache at this point (sweat mustache). Sweat is rolling down my back in beads (I can feel it). IT doesn't help that I sweat profusely on the reg. anyways- but now I am literally losing all of my water weight. My hair is down, black shirt, jeans, bangs stuck to my forehead and just gasping for air. When I go to leave I decide I have just enough time to move my car closer to my class- so I do- I get that cooled sweat feeling when I finally sit in the icy class room only to find out that WWAY is doing a segment on UNCW and has to video our class for a little. So me- sweating- dried sweat- sweaty hair- letters and looking quite sickly gets on the news. Could it get any better?

Yes- as a matter of fact it can!

I go out that night- it's all right.
Skip to Friday- I am a waste of life today with my headache. I start to pack to go home- I look everywhere for my work shoes (which usually means they are in Jacksonville) I call my mom- she thinks she saw them in the house but not sure. By the way- I texted 10 people asking for their shift at 9:30 AM this morning- no one answered. I was pretty much convinced I wanted to drive back to Wilmy, cry, drink beer, and be angry. Oh but on the way home- I am listening to music- singing- chillin' I hear this LOUD pop. I suddenly check all of my mirrors making sure I didn't hit something (I don't know?) and all of the sudden I look forward- the huge truck maybe like 12 wheels on it? One tire had blown on the inside. The tire literally ripped off and was now flailing toward my POS Pontiac Sunfire. Luckily I was able to swerve into the other lane- I think I peed myself a little bit.

Instead of driving home- my father saves the day with his black shoes and one inch thick socks. 2 and a half inches of room between my toe and the end of the shoe. The socks- of course- keep me pretty toasty- desperate for money I go with it. I didn't think, "self, these shoes are not slip resistent" - first thing I do- slide across the floor in the kitchen. Let me just explain that on the floor although it may "seem" decently clean in the beginning of the day there is and invincible layer of oily funk that rests on top of the floor- if you aren't in anti-slip shoes you take a huge risk of *killing yourself*. I walk around all night super cautious and slow (thankfully we weren't busy).

Customer of the day: In his Eastern North Carolina accent, "Can you change that there channel to Nascar. Ain't no body watching this tv but us."
"Yes, I'll get my manager to do that for you."
My manager approaches the table, changes the station and asks, "so who do you like to watch race?"
Customer of the day: "No body I reckon, I just like to watch dem cars go round and round."

I didn't charge them for their sweet tea. I figured- it'd be better that way.

Pretty much it's a terrible evening at work- I go to leave and we aren't allowed to walk out the side door anymore which is convieniently right next to my car. So I walk out the front door, around the building, catch two tweens making out and as I am passing by the dumpsters- with a strange funk spewing out on the ground I slip, fall, bust my arm, scratch it up, bruises galore. I look up- and there is a car full of people just looking at me waiting in the "to-go" parking.

I get in my car, get on 17 and realize I still have that damn watch they make us wear so we can be paged like slaves. I turned around- dropped the watch off. Came home and drank a beer.

I did a few good things today- I helped one of the closers fill sugar bags even though I didn't have to and it was her fault she didnt check for it. There are others but at this point I am so exhausted, I have to drive to Wilmington tomorrow because there is no way I can work in those shoes again.

Bartending tomorrow- Scared. But it will be okay.

Until then...FML.