Thursday, May 14, 2020

Never been so happy to be wrong!

Thank you all for checking in about how it went on my first day back at work (at the still-closed thrift store)!

I am thrilled to report that I was entirely wrong: everything went great.

First thing, right away the E.D. says to the five of us staff people,
"There's no way we're opening next week. We cannot be safe. We cannot protect our customers, who are mostly vulnerable people.
When we open, everyone in the store should wear masks. No more than 22 people in the entire store, including staff. No children."
E.D., formerly Not My Favorite Guy, shot right up to Favorite Guy Ever.

Then--blessed be!--Big Boss had reconfigured work areas in the back, where we sort & price donations.
The crammed area I used to share with Mr Linens is now mine, and mine alone: all books, all the time. Covid aside, this is the best layout.


Finally, everyone was friendly and lovely! 
Turns out we five different people had had quite similar experiences: Everyone commented on having eaten and drunk more and done worthwhile things less than expected.

In the closed store, we could keep lots of space between us. Only two of us wore masks, but I felt okay distancing.

It was WONDERFUL to see the books again! And all the stuff.
I found some new sarongs from Thailand to make masks with---not the tightest weave cotton, so I'll leave an opening where people can insert coffee filters or even paper towels.


In the afternoon I picked up Penny Cooper: she's coming home to be my health care companion.
YAY!!!
You can see some of the sarongs--I'd pulled them out to show bink.
I'll work tomorrow and all next week. The store is in shambles--my St. Patrick's Day books on display, Easter baskets priced and waiting to go out.
Now we have time, we can do it right.
Wooosaaaaahhhhh....