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Submitted by Abbey (View user info) at 2008-05-10 16:10:35 EDT
Haven't been here in awhile...life. But, I'm working on a book that is a true story. I'm hoping for some good feedback and not Uber trash(haha...yeah, that's going to happen). I've already been contacted by a publisher that is interested, but I like lots of opinions. It's entitled: "Hi, How Are You Today?" - the life of a demo lady. It's very much in the 'virgin' stage, just setting the scene. If you take the time to read, you'll see that it will be a long work in progress.
...............
Some amazing things happen in life when you least expect them. You're down in the dumps, depressed, questioning why you are alive and then all of a sudden, someone, or some people touch you in the way you least expected.
I was a teacher of 22 years. I loved kids, but most of all I loved to teach. I had a way of reaching kids that was well respected by my students and their parents. I primarily taught Sixth Grade math and drop out prevention students. I spent a good portion of my time removing the fear of learning math, especially to girls. I loved to see them blossom with their newfound confidence.
Times took a turn for the worse. My parents were very ill and I made frequent trips to see them and care for them. My administration was very supportive, but...a new leadership came in and they were not so happy with the arrangement.
Now, toss is a violent sexual assault, and I was a mess. I had a broken nose, hand and knee. I didn't look 'appropriate' for the elite private school I was teaching at. I started having panic attacks, which was completely foreign to me. In the end, the school was balking at my present state so I resigned. Hence, the story.
I live in Las Vegas. Things are either really good, or abysmally bad. Unfortunately, when I resigned, they were abissamally bad. I spent the next six months trying to find a job. Any job. No one was hiring. Not even a gas station. If you live in Vegas and are not 21, blonde and well endowed, you're not getting a job.
I sent my resume to a good friend of mine who is a CEO of a major casino chain and simply asked him, "What is in my resume that I can't get a job?" His reply was that I needed to 'dumb it down.' People won't hire you with these qualifications because they think you'll leave. That was the first hit on my self-esteem. So, I dumbed it down.
Finally, I went into my local grocery store and basically begged for a job. Enter the second humiliation. I'm not saying that I don't value people in these positions because I really do, but it felt like all my college and experience was going to waste.
After six months, I was offered a position as a front-end manager at the grocery store. This is not what I went to college for, but it had growth potential. At this point, I'll take any job.
I show up the first day of work and they have a new plan.
Manager Dorothy: Hey! You know what? We have a new pilot project going out to 53 stores next Monday and we think you would be great in that position. It's a Demo Lady.
Me: Demo Lady? That's not exactly a new concept.
Dorothy: Well, we'll put you through training and go from there.
Me: Training to give out free food? How hard is that?
Well, actually it is harder than you think, and more touching than I would ever imagine.
The store really had no idea what the corporate office had in mind. In some sense, that was nice as they gave me free reign to do whatever I wanted. They'd give me a product to demo, then I'd add whatever I thought would sell. In addition, I could dress in theme, which is my forte.
I also own a successful DJ company in Las Vegas, hence the various costumes. They have come in handy many, many times.
If I was going to demo fire wings, I'd dress as a fireman. If it was cinnamon rolls, I'd dress as Princess Leigh from Star Wars and put buns on my ears. Imagine cinnamon buns on your head. If it was fruit, I'd dress as a Hawaiian dancer. I would always have music playing on my boom box. The customers loved the music.
I remember one day when I was supposed to demo Energy Bars. So, I put on my workout suit. I'll admit, I don't work out, but I do have the suit. I spent half the day trying to find a cheesy 80's headband, but eventually found one and wore it proudly. Toss in my boom box with high-energy music...Multiple times people would be dancing in front of me in the middle of a grocery store. Did they buy anything? I don't really know, but they enjoyed coming in and continued to come in day after day.
What I didn't expect was the regular customers that would come in every day to see what I was dressed as, or what was coming tomorrow, or what music was playing. So, this story is about some of the amazing people that I met through this somewhat silly job.
The store is located across the street from a very large affluent 55 and older community. I have a wonderful group of clients who come in every day like clockwork. I first wondered why they couldn't buy enough food for two or three days. Most days they bought nothing. Then I found out.
The first to tug my heart was 89-year-old Bill. Bill would come in every day at 3pm. He'd always get a sample, then snag a newspaper and sit down at Starbucks, which is right in front of me, and read. Before he sat down to read, he'd tell me the most amazing life stories.
One day, Bill came in but didn't get a sample. After about 15 minutes I came over to him and patted him on the back and said, "Hey...what's up? No sample today?" He looked at me and grinned and said he was in a down mood. I hugged him and asked him why. Bill proceeded for the next 45 minutes to tell me about how lonely he is. His wife of 51 years was recently killed in a car accident just down the road. I give him another hug and tell him he can come see me anytime.
The next is Ethel. Ethel is an African American woman about 70 (she won't tell me her actual age) that is wheelchair bound. She is one that loves my costumes, but has made it her personal challenge to one-up me. Each day she comes in with the most amazing hats. I always ask to swap hats and her reply is always, "Girl...I go for style. You can keep YOUR hat." She has hats with feathers, gemstones, you name it.
Our third guest is Phil. Phil comes in every day at 4pm. He has his 'helper.' I'm not sure of Phil's issues, but he is very shaky and needs assistance. Phil grills me every day. Do I have my gloves on? Is this fresh? How many calories? What is the sodium level? When I'm on my 10-minute break and he comes in, he complains to the management that I'm not at my station. He's a grouchy old guy but seems to like seeing me.
Finally, we have Aretha. I first met Aretha when she was getting her daily Starbucks. She is an African American woman who is completely shaved bald. Now, any woman would easily admit that is you didn't have to do your hair every day, it would be a GOOD day. So I approach her and say, "Man...I would KILL to have your hairstyle!! That has got to be so good!"
She says, "I'm telling you, it's one of the best things of having cancer." And then she laughs loudly.
Pregnant pause.
Aretha has advanced breast cancer. I listen to her story. She is the most upbeat cancer patient you could imagine. She comes in every day to see the people she is comfortable with. I think she just needs some normalcy in her life.
Priscilla. Oh...Priscilla. My first meeting with Priscilla was, "Good afternoon! How are you today?" She told me to fuck off. Who was I to ask how her day was. More Priscilla to come. She will be a challenge.
Finally, we have Marge. Marge is a Vegas native, which is highly unusual these days. Most people are implants. Marge is 72, but is trying to look 22. She's had more plastic surgery done than you could do in a decade. Marge never buys anything. She just comes in and goes around for a good two hours chatting with anyone in her path. She was a former cabaret dancer and just can't seem to give up the lifestyle. Marge has some great stories about old-school Vegas.
This will be a journal of the daily life of a simple demo lady and the intriguing people I encounter.
I first realized how much I loved this job when Bill didn't show up one day. I was really concerned. He lives alone and doesn't have anyone checking up on him. Then the second day when he didn't show, I was extremely concerned. He was depressed the last time I saw him and is now out of his normal schedule.
I want to tell Bill's story, but he hasn't been in for five days now. This is highly unusual for him. Right now I have tears for a man I don't really know, but have a bond with. I hope he is ok. I'll be eagerly looking for him tomorrow.
Ethel came in around 3pm. She was dressed head to toe in bright pink...with the matching hat. She looked at me and just did the 'talk to the hand' thing. She wheeled past me and finally looked back and said, "Darlin'...you ain't got nothing."
On day six, Bill finally arrived eagerly waving his hand hugely as he staggered through the front door. Bill has seen and been through a lot in his life. His posture is deteriorating, his teeth continually fall out as he's talking with me, and his glasses drop to the floor about every two minutes. Well, my wrath fell upon Bill. "How in the hell do you come in on schedule every day for three weeks after telling me your wife of 51 years just died and you're living alone, then don't show up for 5 days?"
Bill just kind of blinked at me and said, "I didn't know anyone really cared anymore." There is not much of a more heart tug than that. I'm a woman. I try my best not to cry right now in the middle of a grocery store, but I did. I gave him the longest hug ever recorded.
Now, I started to understand why these people come in every day, not even to buy groceries. They need to connect with someone. They need to connect with someone they feel is going to be there when then need to chat or just have a break from the hardships of life, and these older people have had that. We are a privileged generation for the most part and haven't had to deal with many of these issues.
I have asked Bill to write down his life story nearly every day. It's a daily banter with us. They are truly amazing stories. We live in a society today that the majority of us don't have to go through life-threatening issues on a daily basis. We have a roof over our head, food on the plate, and a loving family surrounding us. Step back a couple of generations and you'll see what was life at that time. Bill has been there and lived it and survived. War. He's lived more than one war.
Bill doesn't use computers, so I bought him some nice paper and a packet of pencils and pens. He laughed when I gave it to him. He said he'd write it down when he's 99. Now THAT'S optimistic. Even after all he's been through, he's still thinking about 99 years of age. My best guess is that he'll make it and I hope I'm there to witness it.
Ethel came in yesterday and strolled by me in her wheelchair pretending not to see me. She had the most blinged out hat you could imagine. Myself...well, I was in a baker's hat, which is the required uniform if I can't come up with a costume. The demo was popcorn and for the life of me, I couldn't figure one out something to wear. She strolls just past me and she looks back a few feet ahead, waves her hat and lets out the biggest laughter she could muster. The war is on.
User Reviews
Submitted by Abbey (user info) at 2008-05-12 21:35:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
It's amazing how you can go back and reread what you wrote a hundred times and find ways to improve it. My next submission will be much better.
Got a call from the publisher today who is sending me to an agent. Geez...never had an agent. I'll do my research first before I sign off on anything.
Again, thanks for your support.
Abbey
Submitted by sockenpuppen (user info) at 2008-05-12 12:59:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That was worthwhile reading.
Submitted by Lib (user info) at 2008-05-12 12:51:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
All kinds of good!
Submitted by Abbey (user info) at 2008-05-12 12:32:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
There is more, but it's going to like pulling wisdom teeth out of the old people.
Bill came in yesterday and I handed him a tape recorder and 10 tapes. (Hadn't seen one of those in years.) He laughs and says he thinks he'll need more tapes. But, he balks at the idea of some 'modern' machine. So, we're at the point where I invited him to dinner to tell his story. I'll just push record.
Abbey
Submitted by FALLEN (user info) at 2008-05-12 09:53:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
more?
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2008-05-12 04:46:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by shadow (user info) at 2008-05-11 22:30:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Abbey (user info) at 2008-05-11 13:24:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Again, thank you for the replies. I've done a lot of revamping and additional info. If you're interested in continually giving me feedback, please feel free to email me. I don't want to post the same story over and over again.
Abbey
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2008-05-11 13:20:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by experima (user info) at 2008-05-10 23:15:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Abbey (user info) at 2008-05-10 21:34:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thank you for your input. I spent my ONE day off revising and editing so I think it's a big better now.
Now, I have to get these wonderful people to let me record their stories.
Abbey
Submitted by HotWillie (user info) at 2008-05-10 20:36:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Val (user info) at 2008-05-10 20:25:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I love this. I love, love, love, love, love this.
Submitted by PerkMan (user info) at 2008-05-10 18:36:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
One of the only things I have ever +2'd. This is good. Its quite interesting to write about people you know. I want to start a journal and I think I will.