For those of you who have not read my previous post you need to do that before reading this one.



(Patiently humming the Jepardy theme song)






Okay. Hopefully you are done!



Well, two days after writing my previous post a very strange thing took place. I walked into work and the new manager was in the back of the house (technical term for dishwashing area). As soon as he saw me exclaimed, "Kim, I have to see a picture of your kids!"

I could not speak for a moment because my brain was shortly stunned. I have never spoken to him about my family, being married or anything really and my last encounter with him made it obvious that he was oblivious to all of the above.

After I recovered a bit I said "ok?" and of course pulled out pictures of the most beautiful children ever put into a photograph. Several other employees gathered around. The funniest reaction was Ana, who only speaks a bit of english. She was trying to understand what we were talking about and was very surprised that they were MY kids. The manager told me later that he had been talking to our General Manager, Brenda and she had told him I had kids to which he had responded "Like, young kids?", and she said "Not really!". He apparently was very shocked! Anyway, from that moment on he was extremely friendly with me. Funny how perspective changes everything!

The Big 3-0

At the end of this month, I will be entering a new decade of life. No longer will I be able to hold onto the sweet twenties and for that I mourn just a bit. As much as people dread their thirties, forties and so on, I find myself only reacting because it is fun, not really because I feel terribly old. I have this curse, though some say it is a blessing, of a very young appearance and am mistaken for someone much younger than I really am. I claim it as a curse, only because there is a lack of respect that comes with looking younger. I am called "sweetie", "young lady", and many other tiresome names at work and strangely it aggravates me to no end. Last week, a new manager gave me numerous jobs to fulfill before he would "let me go". I was aggravated because it was already 15 minutes past my end time but the icing on the cake was his "Here you go, young lady" after unlocking a door I needed to get into to. I wanted to scream "I am married, have two children and am most likely older than you!" but... I didn't. I smiled of course and said a small "thanks" and continued my jobs.
I guess after reaching our ten years of marriage, having a daughter who is almost nine and being at the closing end of my twenties, I expect a little respect. Not that I want anyone to address me as ma'am but just to acknowledge occasionally that I have a little life experience and I have an important life outside of Panera Bread.

Maybe I am being too harsh on the world's judgment of age and appearance. Most women would be boastful to being called "sweetie". In a perfect world, we would gain respect no matter our age, but until then I suppose I will just keep sucking it up and smile instead.

So here's to the beginning of a new decade!

Happy birthday, Self!