Milwaukee. 22.
coffee by day; beer by night.

I'm not much of a talker,
nor a writer,
but people's opinions amuse me
way more that they should
...and this is me trying to make sense of it all.

I also have the sex appeal of a toaster.
Enjoy.

“Number One Pickle Salesman!”

I always remember that story my older sister told me about how her guy friend from high school turned from a total introvert to the most talkative guy after working at Starbucks for less than 3 months. 

I guess, I’d like to think that was what happened to me. I’ve been working at the register, taking people’s order at this ‘local’ sandwich shop called jimmy johns (errr…) for about two months now; taking on the busiest rush hour, catering to the snobiest businessmen, picky vegans and overall impatient assholes, or just the most adorable well-dressed yuppies in the downtown area. I’ve sucked out all the monotony for my own sanity and found comfort in telling strangers, in the most simplest sense, what’s on my mind. From the scripted “would you like cheese with that? or some chips and a drink for a combo” to selling pickles to people who ‘look like they like pickles’ or selling the famous grandma’s cookies by telling them it’s the only way she could pay for her medical bills from baking; I’ve practically made it a comedy stand-up stint out of it. I’ve found a way to talk about something else other than the weather in those brief 30 seconds and demand more from a person, upon asking how was their day. For some, they left me unguarded and amazed by their honesty or just willingness to take my joke. Today, my coworker noted how I apparently have six personas when I talk to the customers, right after he said i was weird, in a weird way. I told him, I was just doing my job. After all, I am the “Number One Pickle Salesman!” But for someone, who always thought I’ve struggled talking to people, I definitely thought I was doing myself a favor with unrestraining my tongue from tact.

Pathetic as this account may be, I’ve already turned in my two weeks notice and I’m actually pretty bittersweet about it. For something that I thought would just add some drag to my summer free time turned to be something more, and my art student coworkers aren’t that bad either. They remind me of the kind of people I look for every time I shake my head on the general marquette student body. I’m sure I’ll see them around. Even the strange regulars who come in. For now, I think I’ll be happy I won’t have sandwiches in my daily diet anymore. ooh, nvm.

  1. brewedawakening posted this