Work

Retirement. I don’t miss the money. I miss the connections.

I miss the need to get up at a certain time each morning. The wake-up shower, the first cup of coffee, the rush out the door.

Of course, one could still do those things. But, why ? No one requires that early frenzy of activity.

And I guess that’s the point.

In my late 40’s, I went back to work. This time, to a job. Not a career, not a source of fulfillment, not to prove a point, not even for the money.

We were facing 2 kids about to enter college, but we could have managed the financial burden.

I wanted a schedule, another place to belong, to be part of a work community.

I had a 6 month gig in customer service at a local utility. It was not for me. When the power went out, and the complaint calls came in, I found myself making up stories just to get them off the phone. The calls were monitored, my efforts were lauded by a young supervising staff who just wanted those hundreds of calls in queue answered.

So I respectfully resigned, taking my resume to a local job fair. Prospects there were disappointing. I left, treating myself to a nice lunch.

From “The Grand Budapest Hotel”.

That’s where I saw the newspaper ad.

Hotel front desk jobs…will train.

Why not ?

I went unannounced, still in business attire, and was approached by the manager while I was filling out the application.

I had the interview on the spot, was offered the job, asked for part time hours.

One month later, after a sophisticated Hilton training program, I was working 40-45 hours a week. I loved it.

That part time job became a career that led to sales management and ultimate retirement.

Sometimes, you just end up where you were meant to be.

No regrets.

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