Random Retail Observations

I've been working in a variety of retail/customer service jobs for quite a few years now. The characters you meet, and the experiences you collect in that type of job never cease to astound me. Take the following examples:

• The man that I saw reading in the mall last week. His clothing, and the part of the mall he was reading in told me he probably works at an upscale men's clothing store. However, he reminded me of nothing so much as the stereotypical image of a used car salesman. His greased back hair and big glasses practically screamed of that movie used car lot. I spotted the title of his book, and had to laugh to myself. It was Emotional Blackmail! I had to wonder if he was feeling emotionally blackmailed by someone, or was looking for pointers to do a little blackmailing of his own. The things that pass through my mind...
  
• When I worked in a children's clothing store, I encountered the meanest mother I've ever met. She had her daughter with her - probably around five years old, and still in that "haven't quite outgrown the baby fat" stage. The mother tried a skirt on her daughter, and I complimented how it looked. The mother quite loudly informed me that the skirt wouldn't do - her daughter was "a bit fat", and the skirt might work later, after she lost some weight. All I could do was wonder what the self image of that little girl will be like by the time she hits thirteen. If at five she is already hearing from her mother that she's fat, then by the time she's thirteen, she'll probably be rather traumatized.
  
• And then there are the coworkers. My current favorite is a woman from the china store where I'm working right now. Picture your stereotypical, upperclass old lady. Got it in your head? I work with her. She dotes on her grandchildren - talks about them constantly. She sings with the Calgary Philharmonic Opera chorus, and if I don't bring CD's to work, will make me listen to opera for a whole shift - not so bad for an hour, but painful for eight hours! She not only does needlepoint, she is the PRESIDENT of the Calgary needle point guild. I didn't know that Calgary had a needlepoint guild until I met her. And then, just to make it interesting, she seems a bit crazy. Her behavior is unpredictable, her moods erratic. She's taken to pacing around the store, talking under her breath. Recently, she's added swear words to her under the breath repetoire, even when customers are around!
  

Ah, the joys of retail! Only until December, and then maybe, I'll find a nice, safe full-time office job while I figure out what I want to be when I grow up, and how my bachelor's degree in history fits into that plan!