Yearning

It catches me unawares...the longing to go back. To simpler days..to my youth. It doesn't always happen, but when it does I can almost see myself at 10 or 11 years of age. Summer days spent riding my bike with a gang of kids at my side..flying down small country roads, and feeling the joy of living. We were all friends, and each summer day an adventure. I can remember climbing trees, jumping the creek..staying up late outside and catching lightening bugs, playing kick the can...hoping down railroad ties. Life was so much easier, so much simpler. I yearn for a chance to have a do-over, another chance to feel that vitality of youth.

If we end..do we begin again? I hope so. I'd love another chance to live those years. Especially with the knowledge of my life that I carry with me now. I wish that I could remember it all, even as a toddler. It would make the best home movie. One that could be replayed at will. I know it's not possible..but imagine...living your life over. Creating new possibilities. New memories..new adventures.

It is perhaps my age that is bringing on these thoughts. But how magnificent to live those days again. I miss times that were not so complicated. The sound of my mother calling me in for dinner....the laughter in a room of my friends just being silly....the squishing of mud between my toes...the joy in running and laughing all at once...water fights that circled a home...hanging from the monkey bars...seeing the force of nature and feeling awe at it's destructive powers...bringing home a good report card...playing quietly with my toys...making up a "Play" on a rainy day....

There is so much I'd like to revisit. I wish that it was possible.

K~*

I'm melting, melting...

No, there was not a wicked little girl from Kansas throwing a pail of water on me..it was just damn hot.
It seems every summer (that I have been there) work struggles to provide a comfortable environment for guests and workers. It never quite works though. It does not help that other departments have comfortable uniforms with only one layer, or short sleeves. Security (as has been dictated from above) has to wear suit jackets. So we swelter. If for some reason there is a report in the garage area I could fill my own kiddie pool from the amount of water leaving my body.

We complain every year, and every year we are told 'No.' No summer uniforms, too costly. No working without the jackets...'we have an image that we want you to convey..professionalism..in a coat at all times.'
I've tolerated this and sweated through this for almost 5 years now. The first day that it hits 90 + degrees with high humidity the staff starts to wither and the complaints start. I believe that if they cannot provide a temperature that is comfortable for us then they should adjust the uniform requirements. It would be a great deal cheaper to buy new uniforms then to add another air unit. Or they should join us, in the heat, and in the uniforms, so they can understand why we complain.

My guess is that it will take staff getting ill in numbers before anything changes. If our Core values start with "Employees are our number one priority" then they should live by those words or the promise of them.

Dear Company,
   Your employees are melting and feeling ill wearing to many and too heavy clothing items.
Please do something this year to change that..or change your bogus Core values to an honest one..
"Employees, you are all expendable. Just shut up and work. We can find someone to take your place."

Irritated and melty
K