Never Thought I'd Be Doing This As a 48-Year-Old Divorcée...

Never Thought I'd Be Doing This As a 48-Year-Old Divorcée...

(check out my blog every Tuesday)

Posted to House Bloggers by Sondra Simmons on Tue, 01/06/2009 - 10:07am

Last time I told you about my new ambition, to become a grocery store cashier. Maybe you want something like that, too, for the health insurance that goes with the position, as well as the wee stipend for stuff like rent, pet food, and gas for the car.

I was surprised to find no line of hopefuls wrapped around the store when I arrived shortly after sunrise, but a steady stream presented itself: men as well as women, some my age, some young enough to be my children.

I found myself hoping that the polite young man who got there just as I did would get the job, or that it might go to the young woman with the beautiful smile who held the heavy door back for us to enter as she exited. These kids need a good job with benefits, I thought. It could be a great start for them.

Maybe that's why I, uh, forgot to mention my previous cashiering experience on the application. Or maybe it was because I really just don't want to be a cashier again.

Imagine.

Never expected to be doing that now, as a 48-year-old divorcée. Never expected to be a 48-year-old divorcée.

Silly me.

The representative said I'd hear from the company in a week if they had a place for me. So if my phone's going to ring, that should happen any time now.

I'd prefer to be waiting for word of my ascension to a full professorship, or that the syndication deal I'd been working on has come through.

Those calls may come, someday. For now, though, I'd relish the safety provided by a little job at the grocery store.

And if I don't get it, I'd be really happy to see the face of that young man, or that young woman, when next I approach the register with my bananas and sparkling juice in hand.