The adventures of Non-Profit

The fact that I am a 22 year old working for a non-profit organization is pretty unique.  Many just want money and lots of it, so they work for companies that pay more than $7.25/hour.  I work for Goodwill Industries.  It is pretty neat and I feelproud to be a "Goodwillian."  We're the coolest individuals, lets just face it.  We help the world go round.  Every step we make while on the clock makes a difference in someone's life.  Goodwill's mission statement is "To support persons with disabilities and other barriers to independence in achieving their fullest potential as workers and as members of the broader community."  Lets just say, that is pretty amazing.


I started at Goodwill in late July of 2007.  I really needed a job because at the time, I was paying for my community college education.  I went around to all the stores in a shopping center that is right near my house.  I saw that Goodwill was hiring so I went to apply.  I filled out the application and returned it 20 minutes later to the cashier on duty.  She then handed it to the manager and my manager, C, asked me if I wanted to be interviewed. Now, not expecting to be interviewed, I was wearing sweatpants and my Montgomery County Community College T-shirt.  I said yes and she took me into her office.  I noticed right off the bat that she was super serious about the company. I knew I was being judged severly.  After the interview, she showed me around the back room, introduced me to all of the current employees, and showed me what everyone does with their specific jobs.  I figured this was a good sign. A week later, the assistant manager, J, called and offered me a job; I was going to be a sorter.  The sorters go through all of the textile donations. It was a fun job, I was able to see all of the merchandise before it hit the store.  Goodwill employees are NOT allowed to take what they want.  Customers get first dibs, I am just going to put that out there.  It was also a really gross job because people donated their dirty underwear; enough said. 


I always say that it is the people and the mission that keep me at Goodwill.  My co-workers mean the world to me...well most of them.  In the 3 years that I have been with the company, I have seen countless people leave.  It can be a tough place to work at; the people, the customers, the amount of work for only $7.25 is enough to make people go nuts. But in the end, I found my best friends, my sisters, my 2nd mom, my grandmoms, and my 2nd dad there.  My (old) assistant manager, J, is like my 2nd mom.  She gives me the best advice on work and men.  I love her so much because she is so real. She doesn't play around and she works incredibly hard.  A, my 2nd dad, is the sweetest man I have ever met.  He is so adorable and kind.  He has the sickest sense of humor and sometimes, I think I inhereted it from him.  E, she is my grandmother. I love her so much.  B-bins, whenever I see her face, a smile just can't help but creep up on my face.  and then there is S and Jenny. They are my sisters, my best friends, and my rocks. 

and there is/was my manager, C.  C was one of those managers that was impossible to have any positive emotions for.  She was extremely insulting, rude, and just plain mean.  She never appreciated what her co-workers did for her.  She looked down on all of us and she was jealous of those who had and were leading successful lives.  She glorified the lazy ones and punished the hard workers.  She was insufferable.  And that is the best I can describe without going beyond what I am allowed to say.

For 3 years, every summer we were wishing for the moment that she would retire and leave us. For 3 years, we complained to the high-ups and never heard a word. For 3 years, we endured her terrible self.  We didn't know in the 3 years we worked for her, that they were collecting data, stories, and facts. 

So yesterday ,in my opinion, was history in my Goodwill Store.  It started out as every other day. I was a keyholder because I had been with the company for so long. I opened and closed the store and last summer, I was promoted to management.  I went out on the register and C stayed in her office doing God knows what. I minded my own business and she left me alone unless I needed a break.  C's boss, Ap, is one hell of a lady.  She is nice but one not to be reckoned with. When I saw Ap enter the store, I figured she was here for an audit.  I acknowledged her and went on with my work.  The last I heard was "Angie! I am not on the floor anymore, ok?" which was her way of saying I'd be on the floor all by myself the whole day.  While C and Ap were in the office, I received 2 calls for C; 1 from a seasonal employee and 1 from C's manfriend.  20 minutes later I see C coming out. I went to tell her that her loveybear (as I affectionately call her manfriend) called until I saw how red her face and neck were. I could tell that her eyes were seconds away from tears. My first thought: oh fuck, they're letting me go. My second thought: who died? She put her right arm around my shoulders and looked into my face. "Whats wrong?" I asked. "They're letting me go" She said in a very hushed voice.  Those 3 years of anguish disappeared in that moment. I hugged her so tightly and kissed her cheek.  She was my boss; the woman who hired me in sweatpants.  The woman who taught me a lot. The woman who promoted me and gave me a chance. She read my articles. She annoyed the piss out of me but in that moment, it didn't seam to matter.  What do you say to someone who has just lost their job. Goodwill was C's life.  That simple.  But now and I told her this, she could live the life she is meant to. Travel; go to Africa. Marry her manfriend. Live in Florida.  Enjoy life without a care in the world.  Ofcourse, we all would have rather her retire; leave Goodwill with some sort of honor.  When she left, collecting her items under the supervision of Ap, she waved at us and said "Good luck everyone!" 

Why was she let go? "Because I was mean to my employees and co-workers." So why now? Why after 3-4 years? Because 1 complaint finally cut the cake; made everything complete. They moved in quickly and it happened so quickly. In a snap, my boss was gone.  She left, the last image being her back and her hand waving away.  The aftermath is still spreading through everyone. We're shocked and amazed.  Happy but sad.  The sweetest thing? Ap told us that we'll always have her support.  Other PA Goodwills' would be supporting us. Because after all, in one week we lost our assistant manager (not J...though she'll be coming back after surgery) and our manager.  And all of this happened the last day of work.  Now I am leaving with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I don't want to leave my co-workers when they are going through this.  But I guess I get to escape it. Hopefully when I come back, I will still have a job and my fellow co-workers will still be there. 

I still feel uneasy.

The Aftermath

I must say, I am feeling very emotional right now and I am not sure I can really blame it on mother nature.  It sounds silly, but this week I have truely come to realize those who care for me and love me and those who do not.  It is a peaceful feeling. But before that, let me tell you about my adventure!

So the morning of the wisdom teeth removal, I woke up with an ichy throat and nerves that went sky high.  I think during the morning, my most complicated task was finding an outfit that was comfortable.  I left my favorite pair of stretchy pants at school and the only short sleeved t-shirt I had was my uniform (you have to wear short sleeves for the IV). When we entered the office, I was pacing back and force while reading the precautions sheet BEFORE my surgery. Like I really wanted to read about the complications before my surgery.  There was another woman in the waiting room with my mom and I. Apparently, everyone was getting their wisdom teeth out on Monday.  My mom, ofcourse, was trying to make me feel better. She was cracking jokes about me being drunk and how anesthesia feels like that. I loved her for it but I just wanted to watch my Girls Next Door through my Ipod nano.  I was super nervous.  Then the nurse called my name and ofcourse I replied with a "Do I have to?" when she told me that I should just get it over with.

So she took another Xray and then she had me sit in the chair where I stared at the machine that would display my heart rate. She really did a good job of trying to comfort me and tell me how they would be taking my blood pressure and monitering me the whole time.  So when she put the laughing gas mask on top of my nose, thats when things started to feel good. It really does relax you and there are so many funny things I said; like how I kept telling them how it wasn't working and that I felt awake and how I always wanted to go to Pennstate University (which I really do not) and then they let me sit in the room for 5 minutes while I breathed in the laughing gas.  My dentist comes in 5 minutes later and says "Oh yes, the laughing gas is working." Apparently, I had a goofy smile on my face. I can tell you, the only thing I remember was the IV going in my hand, which hurt a little and then feeling something going through my left arm. I don't remember falling asleep.  And then it felt like 2 seconds later and I was awake. 

Ofcourse, the 1st thing I did was throw up. The anesthesia did not agree with me at all.  I couldn't keep anything I ate down. The first day was the worst. I was a hot mess, literally.  But I had my parents there for me and a few texts and voicemails and calls from those friends that I can truely count on.  It was nice to know that people actually love me and care for me.

and that is why I am a complete SAP right now.  I just am so emotional, wanting to be around everyone and cuddle with everyone.  I've just been sitting around, reading and watching TV and movies.  But right now, I could go with cuddling with everyone I know.  It is not like me to be this emotional and clingy.  It just really meant a lot to me how much I was cared for this week.  I don't know if I can ever manage to put this feeling into words; it is just a good feeling.

and So I conquered my fear and I am very proud of myself.

the loss of one's widsom (teeeeefers)

It is always so funny how wrong my mom is about my health sometimes. For instance, in the 7th grade, every spring I would wake up for a week with the worst conjestion.  I would sneeze and be ichy for days once spring came around. I kept prompting her and telling her it was my allergies but she simply waved it off as a cold.  Until one day, when mom brought me to the doctor to get this "cold" taken care of and when he was done examining me, he looked at my mom and said "your daughter has allergies." For years, I haven't let her get away with this; it is our own little inside joke.


Until about 3 years ago, my wisdom teeth began to grow in and it was absolutely painful. Nothing like teeth that don't belong, growing into the very little space you have left on your gums. Now my upper widsom teeth look like they are going to swing right off my gum because they are at such an awkward angle.  I kept telling my mom "Mom! My wisdom teeth are going to have to come out!" and she just simply refused to believe me.  Well, this semester, for a week straight, my one tooth was killing me. I felt as if I needed a root canal. So mom made an emergency dentist appointment and I went in to have the tooth looked at. My very friendly dentist took some xrays and after examining the tooth, she told me that it looked as if I needed to have my wisdom teeth taken out.  Sometimes when the wisdom teeth are "acting up", they tend to hurt the entire set of teeth.  Another "ah ha!" in my mom's face. 


So tomorrow, I get my wisdom teeth taken out.  I am a bit nervous about this.  At the time of the dentist's appointment, it seemed like such a far away date: January 4th, 2010. I didn't think much of it until I had my evaluation with my oral surgeon.  He told me that basically they would be giving me "laughing" gas to calm me down and then they would be putting the anesthesia in via an IV.  I sort of freaked out. I have been a pretty lucky kid. Nothing bad has ever truely happened to me and I am lucky enough to say that this is the most extensive procedure I have ever had done.  I've never had laughing gas and I've never had anesthesia. I think the biggest fear of mine is that I could not wake up from this stuff. I think that is everyone's fear.  I guess I will be conquering one my biggest fears tomorrow.  I am a little nervous about the pain the next following days. I've also never taken heavy medications such a Vicodine or Percoset.  Needless to say, I am a bit nervous about the entire thing.


And weirdly enough, I am a bit sad. I know I am a bit late in the age range to be getting my wisdom teeth out but once they are gone, they are gone. Atleast I can say that it is done and I hopefully will never have to have any teeth pulled again. 


Anyways, while doing my neurotic and OCD research on widsom teeth extraction, I found some funny youtube videos to go along with my theme of my loss:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtHXxMJ6xxs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPZbQZlKzwM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgaOXaVB73k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPnGAUHhfaE&feature=related

and this one is absolutely hysterical but hopefully I won't get THAT bad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3g1rXT4-uo&feature=related

I will post after the "experience" (haha)