OK, so I stole the title from Erica Kane's show on All My Children. But, after this week, my brain is no longer capable of coherent thought.
After 16 years driving to the same location for work and seeing many of the same people every day, week, month - you get the point, I have moved on. It was a difficult decision, but once I made it official, it was a steady move forward. Until the first day on the bus.
Here is a log of my first week:
Day 1 - first day on a bus to downtown
7:00 - wake up, shower, put on casual clothes (ie. jeans)
7:40 - dressed, fed, waiting for time to pass in order to catch the
8:05 bus. On schedule. Day is going well.
7:50 - leave for bus stop
7:55 - arrive at bus stop...with umbrella...in pouring rain. Ask lady at bus stop if I'm in the right place. Receive a small nod and perhaps a short grunt indicating the affirmative. Place myself in position under the shelter
8:05 - board bus...move to back...squish in front facing seat (not to self - don't sit here tomorrow)
8:45 - miss stop
8:46 - ask driver to let me out at red light
8:47 - arrive at work. Doesn't feel like work. Invited to join a conversation about a potential new client. Huh? what are we talking about? Nod to show interest. Deep breaths to avoid tears.
8:50 - See new desk. Find kettle and fill it. A nice cup of tea will help. Meet with owner to go over logistics.
8:52 - Turn kettle on.
8:53 - Continue meeting with owner. Cry about the bus. Great first impression, Jenn!
8:55 - Turn kettle on.
8:56 - Can't find button to turn computer on. What was I hired for? Oh yes, my technical savvy.
8:58 - Ask for help to turn on computer.
8:59 - Turn kettle on.
9:05 - Log in and sip on tea.yadda yadda yadda (stole that part from Seinfeld - see note at top)
4:15 - Leave in panic to catch the 4:23 bus that stops in front of our building
4:23 - Look at watch
4:24 - Look down the road
4:25 - Look at watch
4:26 - 4:29 - repeat last 3 steps
4:30 - board bus. Sit in front!
4:31 - see a friend who started working 3 weeks ago
4:32-5:00 - cry with Karen
5:00pm - arrive at stop, drive home, hug kids
Day 2 - plan to drive
12:00am - sleeping
4:00am - awake to realization that I don't have an alarm code. can't go to work early
5:00am - realize I can sleep in6:00am - trying to get back to sleep
7:00am - might as well get up now
7:40am - dressed and ready to drive in. Wait..can't go early without and alarm code. I'll take the 7:50 bus. Kiss family and head out.
7:44am - see bus in front of me on way to bus stop. Didn't get speeding ticket.
7:45am - board bus. Sit in front!
8:15am - arrive at work. Too early? Nope. Owner and Sales guy are there.
8:17am - learn that they came in early to be there for me. They had a pool on when (and IF) I would show up
8:18am - held back tears (mostly)10:00am - meeting. Actual work!
1:30pm - meeting3:00pm - meeting
4:25pm - excuse myself from meeting to catch the 4:23 bus out front.
4:28pm - Board bus. Where's Karen? Out of breath Karen boards bus. Learn that bus arrives at this stop at 4:30...usually.
4:29pm - Bus stops for 2 more who almost missed it (but he wasn't supposed to stop so pretend I didn't say that)
4:55pm - arrive at stop, drive home, pick up kids, make supper with mashed potatoes
6:05pm - supper is on the table. How did that happen? I used to get home at 5:50, then change before starting to make supper.
Day 3 - feeling adventurous - take bus to doctor
7:05am - leave to catch 7:15 bus
7:10am - lots of parking spots today!
7:15am - the early morning people are much more pleasant! Things are looking up.
7:45am - arrive at work, unlock door on first try. enter alarm code. Hear Duane say "I already unarmed it, I think you just armed it"
7:46am - heart starts beating again, after Duane said it wasn't armed because the door was open9:00am - Owner arrives. I smile.
10:00am - Doing real work.
3:15pm - hurry outside to catch the
3:15 to my doctor's office - in the opposite direction of home3:20pm - check schedule and watch.
3:23pm - bus arrives on time.
3:35pm - arrive at doctor's office for 3:40pm appointment.
4:35pm - meet with doctor. Describe new job.4:40pm - ask how to get home from there.
4:41pm - leave building, step onto waiting bus. ask for transfer
4:45pm - exit at the first stop where I can catch the bus for home
4:46pm - realize I should have waited for the main stop
4:53pm - board the bus to my final desination
5:30pm - arrive only 1/2 hour later than last time?? Cool!!
11:00pm - create note on FaceBook
