more thoughts like of thanksgivings of past

I’d head out early as the sun was coming up as the store would open at 7 in the morning. Those mornings when the ice covered the sidewalks and there was no sun at all and walk past Euclid stree with the old cemetery all along the way till the corner. The winds always picked up right along thst strip. I split open my hand falling on the ice on the way one morning. That was such a cold day. 

There’s no time before you walk in. Throw your coat in the locker with your stuff. And this is the last chance to pee until seven hours from now when the relief girl arrived. Punch in on the big grey machine then out the rubber double doors past the refrigerated cases of beer and milk

Mornings were gruesome. The store manager grumpy. The pharmacist always made me feel better which ever one it was; they were the wise chiefs who stayed in the heavenly glass cage 

If there were stacks of films to do and a line all with people asking for lottery or money orders—it was a nightmare morning. In separate bunches it was ok. All st once was the worst. And the ladies waving their sales fliers at me—which is better have memorized because they have— and always out of every item on the ad. And the wall of cigarette brands which you better know quick because ten more people just got on line. All with very heavy things to put into bags for them. Whatever you do, don’t call the manager for help. 

I still remember all the customers by name. There was Jim who always got three cartons of Misty’s light even though he laughed it was a ladies brand. But he was a tall Clint Eastwood older man type; his wife was Doris who sped around the shop in her motorized wheel chair he was so proud of.

    Jim was a funny man. I’ve written about him before here. I hated him st first. He put me through the steps —military type, you know; snap too it. I dreaded him at first when I saw him walk in. Barking orders st me. I’d make sure I had the stack ready for him before he walked in because he always showed up on day one of the sales at peak hour— and guess what?—eventually he specifically went to my line because I always had his stuff ready and I became his favorite checkout girl. He’d walk up to Margie and yell at her to not leave me with a long line 

Michigan is a lot like that even now because they choose to be different and odd there. Even their driving laws are different