Trading Coffee for Khalua
Well, I did it. I finally quit my soul-sucking office job. July 1 is my last day and it can't come soon enough!
It stared the Tuesday after Memorial Day, after having spent nine days among people who understand me. I walked into the office and literally wanted to start crying. I knew I couldn't take it anymore. So, I gave myself till lunch to calm down a little bit, and then contacted my boss. Luckily, she is a very understanding woman, gave me her blessing and her business card and told me she was proud of me. (ok, at this point I really did want to cry because I was so relieved)
Now, yes, I need money to live, so I decided to do something I've never done before. Bartend! It will be good money and it won't be an office job, which is just so not me. I signed up for a class at the better bartending school in town that also hooks you up with jobs. I start July 11th!! I can tell it's the right decision because I feel happier than I have in a very long while.
I'll start sometime early August, so look for posts about interesting happenings in New York City bars. :)
It stared the Tuesday after Memorial Day, after having spent nine days among people who understand me. I walked into the office and literally wanted to start crying. I knew I couldn't take it anymore. So, I gave myself till lunch to calm down a little bit, and then contacted my boss. Luckily, she is a very understanding woman, gave me her blessing and her business card and told me she was proud of me. (ok, at this point I really did want to cry because I was so relieved)
Now, yes, I need money to live, so I decided to do something I've never done before. Bartend! It will be good money and it won't be an office job, which is just so not me. I signed up for a class at the better bartending school in town that also hooks you up with jobs. I start July 11th!! I can tell it's the right decision because I feel happier than I have in a very long while.
I'll start sometime early August, so look for posts about interesting happenings in New York City bars. :)
posted by Aimee | 6:38 AM
4 Comments:
Kick ass! You'll be like the Sam Malone of New York.
Aimee,
Congratulate yourself for being so brave! All endings and beginnings are hard. Good luck in your new career!
Here in upstate New York State, there's a very fine poet (published in "Rattle" and elsewhere) who was a bartender until his recent retirement. His name is Alan Catlin. Are you familiar with his work? He's written a number of poems entitled with the names of the drinks he used to serve.
Gwen
P.S. I know what you mean about feeling "understood" while at Spalding MFA-poetry for nine days!
Aimee, I'm proud of you, you know I'm going through the same thing and I think it's a brave decision on both of our parts. Can I just tell you how much I relate to what you were saying about being among those who understand and support you for 10 days, only to come home to the exact opposite? I cried and cried when Teneice and Nicole and everyone left that Sunday because I was like, here are these awesome women whom I love so much, and all these great people, and now I have to go home to...well, I won't get into it, haha. It was a total moment of revelation for me: what a sec, I CAN change my life, I can get on this plane, go home, quit my job, pack up my stuff, and be me somewhere else.
Next time I'm in New York, I'll seek you out, buy a drink, and leave you a big tip.
Send me some poems some time!
Hey Aimee, you're actually living out my fantasy. Every time I sit at a bar I think: I would love to go to bartending school. I quit my job before the residency --- oh no, wait, that's a fantasy. I actually got fired. But I had been thinking, hours before finding out I was canned (in an e-mail), how can I give two weeks notice and then not work the two weeks, so I'll have time to get ready for the residency??? I was SO relieved when my boss resolved things for me by telling me to turn in my keys. The only thing is, don't say the following words in my presente:
money, finances, paycheck, checking account, bills. Good luck with your new profession!!!
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