The Brady For Bledsoe Moment

Columbus Day has to be the most pointless holiday all year. Now that it is called "Indigenous People's Day" it is still pointless. I haven't had it as a paid holiday in years.

Most of these days are insignificant. Except one. I was at work- of course- and asked to do a job that a colleague on vacation normally did. I was placed in his role- a leadership role- under the assumption that I would fail.

This was from the abusive supervisor who constantly wanted me to quit. Every day I walk into that building between now and retirement proves how much of a failure that supervisor was at his one pursuit.

That killed the "Hey freshman!" attitude. I didn't like that in ninth grade. I really didn't like it at the beginning of sophomore year when a limp upper classmen referred to me and couple classmates as such.

None of the ones who blurted things at me showed another side of themselves. Forget them. Some are forgettable. I was not officially trained. Working next to Randle caused me to observe how he worked. He set a standard.

He misses days. Usually for good reason. If his children had the day off school- someone had to watch them. This was a vacation and that Monday I found the position I should have worked from the beginning.

The belt splitter sets the tone for everyone down the line. Bosses thought I would not be able to keep up. Neither the first time I was underestimated nor the last. The belt supervisor was always friendly and supportive to me.

He had to deal with the abusive supervisor as well. As the week progressed, John said "I think you found your calling." He also said he never saw me happy on the job before that week.

Some people are in the wrong position. It could be the right company or a good company. They are given work that doesn't play to their strengths. I took one job with the intention to join the travel department.

The supervisor of that department wanted her employees to act like the townspeople in Get Out. I would not drink the tea and was never given the promotion. Enough time was wasted in that company as it stands.

The timing of this switch- I made no more money. It was definitely a promotion- meant I could split the belt when peak season began. Randle still works for the company. He does very well and they should be thankful they have him. I managed to slip through the cracks and as previously stated: good triumphed over evil.

The friendly employees are still with me may years later. Maybe in different departments. We still say hello and the angry jerks who yelled a lot; opening the door for an abusive supervisor to verbally attack have all fallen away. No one kept up with them and there is nothing more to say. I stuck around to chart a new course.

New employees don't go through the unnecessary abuse I endured. The work is challenging no matter what. Having someone yell at us did nothing to speed the process. I found where I can contribute and make a difference. Which is all I ever wanted.