the pre-holiday experience

Tomorrow is that unique American holiday, Thanksgiving. My employer decided just a week ago to give everyone 3 days off, Wednesday through Thursday. That's nice for people who don't have "essential" job functions. I, on the other hand, volunteered (before being volun-told as a worker with the least seniority) to work 2 shifts during the day today, so I worked 6am-2pm local time, with no break for any lunch. I was the only full-timer there, and it showed. It was terribly busy because of all the people who didn't treat today like a holiday and called in with their issues. Thankfully, I also had a few student workers online, and hopefully they helped us avoid dropped calls from people who got tired of waiting for us to answer the phone.

After that arduous day, I needed something different to shake up my mind. (*whisper* "foreshadowing")

I changed clothes, put in my warzone wallet, and walked to the local small asian grocery store. On my way there, near the gas station I've mentioned before, two young women walked past me. I figured it would be rude to pretend not to see them, so I looked up and tried a small polite smile. The one nearest to me smiled back and yelled, "PUT YO DICK IN MY THROAT!" I guess my attempt at passing friendliness made a bad impression.

Movin' right along.

I got to the store, and a comparatively older woman outside the door asked me something which I couldn't hear. I lifted the side of my warm beanie so it wasn't covering my ear, and she said something again. I think I heard something about 2 dollars. I pulled out my warzone wallet, in which I only ever keep a $1 and a $5 bill. I handed both to her, and she smiled and wanted to hug me. I hesitated, being covid cautious and not having my mask on yet (because I hadn't stepped inside the store yet). I stopped breathing momentarily for air safety, then I approached her to let her hug me. She smiled broadly and said, "You aren't doing anything bad." Whatever that means? I guess my covid-concerned hesitation made a bad impression.

Inside the store, the strangest new thing I found (that I was willing to eat, anyway) was this bag of mozzarella fish corn dogs. I have enjoyed an occasional plain fish corn dog, and I can usually tolerate small indulgences of gluten exposure, so I figured I might as well give these new treats a try. Gotta love food fusions, right? Right?

I walked home less eventfully and ate my dinner in front of the television, watching recent weekends of Saturday Night Live on YouTube. As the Founding Fathers intended.

So how was your pre-holiday?