I managed to work five full days despite the fact that my body was screaming from all the bending and standing I did this past week. When Saturday night finally came, I was so excited to go home and rest. All I could think about was the hot tub at the pool and how soothing it would be to soak. I did that yesterday, after tossing and turning all night, trying to find a part of my body that didn't hurt.
When I was crossing the country, I stopped at the Badlands, in South Dakota. I was shocked at how out of this world the terrain was. I had never seen anything like the formations made by nature. How did the pioneers get across this part of the country? It was treacherous enough in a car.
As I pulled into a nearly isolated parking lot close to an overlook, I noticed another car, the same make, model, and color as mine, with Florida plates, just like mine. How weird. I walked toward the overlook, asking everyone back if they were from Florida.
Finally, a group of young people with dreadlocks and diamonds in their noses, approached. A young woman said they were from Winter Park, which is less than two hours from Vero Beach. They were doing a last ditch around the country road trip before they headed to Mendocino for harvest, where they were trimmers. I gave her my card and told her to call me if there was a job for me. I never heard from her, and I here I am with a job in the cannabis business.
It's a good thing I did, because if I was home alone all day with nothing but Twitter, I'd be crazy. Actually, I was. But even more now. Mueller's report was given to the Attorney General, who distributed a report written by him, saying the president was exonerated. Trump is gleeful today, although none of the republicans want to release Mueller's actual report. If the president is totally exonerated, then let's see the report.
This stuff is also driving me crazy. Work is a respite from the craziness of the world today. There is so much going on in this store. You would think that working in a weed store would be a laid back experience. You would be wrong. This is one of the most intense places I have ever worked. Yet, it doesn't look that way to the patients. It really is like Disney World, in that it's theater, not letting the customer see the reality, the characters without their costumes.
I have now counted 300 bins full of flower three times. I am out in the open, listening to the bud tenders, who have an incredibly stressful, physical job. There is usually a long line to get to a bud tender, but it moves fast. Many people on that line are suffering from chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, among other things. It is hard enough to get up and out. Having to stand in line, in a place where it is easy to become over stimulated and overwhelmed, is agony for people with sensory issues. First time visitors are apprehensive about asking questions and looking stupid. Most customers are happy to be there, and are a delight to deal with. But there have been a few, just in the short time I have been there, who made me want to jump over the counter and wring their necks.
On Saturday, I was eavesdropping while I was counting. A woman of my age was with her husband, and approached the bud tender, already confused. The first time is confusing, especially at this store. You have to go through security, show your id, pass by different vendors, who are giving away freebies. There's the line, the music, the lighting, so it makes it hard to see a method to the madness.
The woman kept asking the bud tender if the people behind the counter were all separate vendors, where she had to go for different things. The young man tried to explain that everyone behind the counter was selling the same things and he could find her whatever she needed. She wouldn't listen, and kept talking over him. She pestered him about whether the stuff really worked or if he was just selling her a bill of goods. She also wanted to know if this is where she could get the best price. Would it make her crazy? He remained calm, as her husband said, "Ok, now you're just being weird. I'll be in the car." She calmed down after that, but not much.
When she left, I told the guy how impressive his patience was. He was philosophical, and said that she was exactly the person who needed our product and would be a good customer.
That is just the front of the house. There's the back of the house, where it's even more intense. That's where the security cameras are. The deliveries from vendors come through the back. And deliveries arrive all the time, because there is so much product moving. The flower is fresh, which is great for the consumer, but difficult for the inventory person. Everything is counted on the way in and the way out. It's also counted while it's in the case. The state of California says 97% of product must be accounted for in every shop. So things have to be precise and buttoned down. It is a cash business so accounting and inventory is even more important.
The vibe is what makes it far different than any job I have ever had, especially the jobs I had in DC. It is intense, but the people seem kind. It is a pleasure to watch the bud tenders interact with their clients. They are so knowledgeable. Vendors train them about their products, including giving goodie bags (which are locked in the safe and taken home at the end of the day), so that they'll know how they'll feel. Research. All part of the job.
Everyone is under thirty, which is a good thing, because these bud tenders run up and back behind the counter looking for a product for a patient hundreds of times a day. The others are running up and down, getting down on the ground, refilling the bins and shelves. They inspire me. The place is buzzing with energy. You cannot be medicated and do these jobs.
Swimming really helped me feel better when I woke up this morning. The secret is to keep moving. My goal is to breeze through the count, day by day, with something left over for life outside of work. I was in a healthy groove when I was substituting in October. My vim and vigor can't have gone too far. Richard said to give it 30 days before I decided that the job is too physically demanding for me. He said our bodies are stronger than we realize. It's our brains that lie and say we're weak. He knows.
We watched Game of Thrones again last night. Richard made pasta with a light pesto-y sauce and shrimp. Gregory made tomatoes, feta, and vinegar. We are almost finished with season 6, with a night off tonight. We have plenty of time until April 14th, when the new season begins.
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