The Nordstrom Season

I haven't been to the beach in over a year. That photo is still up there, tho. I had such a good time. I remember how long we slept that morning in a pitch black hotel room. And the delicate art of being out (with beer) that infused the whole sitting and relaxing with an energy that is memorable.
I love you, Maak. Please don't ever stop being you.
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My coworkers think I'm bizarre. Patti, of course, is worried about my being happy and staying. Vanessa wants an ally because the job is harder now that Patti is in charge. Emily is a lifer. She'll keep moving up - or not - depending on her abilities to sustain herself on the Kool-aid. Jennifer is classy and traditional. She's a mom who's ventured back into the workforce and she is capable of a lot more. She is smart and kind and suits the department well. She's also there to supplement her kids' educations, not pay her mortgage. Elizabeth is young and new. The girls in Encore are a lot quieter and I have yet to meet Tory.
Patti is very good at what she is doing. And she's very driven. But she's not seeing the big picture. With her understanding and drive, she should be making $100000 dollar sales, not $1000 sales. Might have to get her to follow me some day.
Me? I love the customers. And I knew I would. Had I started out in retail at 21, I could be in store management by now. But Monita works 7 days a week. That would KILL me. Still, I'd be the best dressed corpse at the Mausoleum.
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In November of 1999, Monita sold me some Trish McEvoy make up and taught me a lesson in eye-shadow I will never forget. Two days into my training I realized she was now the store manager of 722. She hasn't changed. In fact, she doesn't seem to care about the synchronicity at all. She's a serious Kool-aid addict. Yesterday I offered to sell her a couple of dresses. She laughed and told me "good, good." But is wasn't genuine. I see her as a negative reinforcement girl who is an exception generator. I'll be able to build rapport eventually. If I keep trying. But right now I'm just impressed with the synchronicity of life.
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Back to the customer.
We sell very few truly ugly clothes in my department and in Indi. We have great things that look great on lots of different bodies. We have things that fit those who take care of themselves and those whose life-saving drugs swell their torsos and cripple their extremities. We have fabrics that will wear forever and styles that seem to hide every sin we indulge in.
I am an Indi girl and I knew it. Misook and Eileen Fischer are a bit too "old" for me. Funny, when I was 22 I would have worn Eileen Fischer to garner respect. Now, I fear it would age me
(not that the lights don't already accomplish that). But Classiques and BCBG and Theory. Those are my brands. I could have an entire Wardrobe of Classiques. And I will some day.
Anyway, the customers make the time fly. They are so helpless. Or grateful for the company and the personal attention. Or thankful that their time crunch is acknowledged. Or simply happy to be in a beautiful, classy and timeless store.
When I'm working with them I smile. Genuinely. And that's what makes this job fun.
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Oh, but I am tired. I was just contemplating raking the front yard... though not all the leaves are down yet - and it seems too daunting. Maybe I'll get out the blower and "dust' the front yard....
I was going to put up some Christmas lights. I feel overwhelmed at the thought of finding my staple gun. I need to clean my carpets and bring them back inside. But that involves hauling out the vaccuum. And then, there's the dust that Amy just doesn't see. I have to find a way to get that up before my allergies turn me into a 65 year old woman. And I would like it if the house smelled of roasting meat and apple pie, but I fear the trip to the grocery. And the dogs really do need baths. And ... I have to cook for Joe and I have to cook for dinner and I have to plan for Thanksgiving and I have to... Did I mention I am really tired today.
Lisa... I miss you.