For three years I had to work weekends at this job. It was brutal, at times. I usually had a Monday/Tuesday or Wednesday/Thursday off, but to wake up at 5:30am and make an hour commute (once I'd moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn) to and from on Saturday and Sunday.....well, made me truly appreciate my days off. And I forgot what it was like to watch football and NBA triple-headers on Sunday.
That's the way it goes with these types of jobs. Lowest on the ladder gets the shittiest days to work. After a year and half the three guys I had been working weekends with the entire time had a "graduation." Which meant that they moved to the Monday-Friday work week. And me? Still worked the weekends. For another year and a half. The one ace that I had in my hand was that I wouldn't be spending the rest of my life working a dead-end job. This may be it for some of the rest of these guys. I think around this time I had started taking evening classes at Manhattan Community College to clear some core classes and boost my GPA. I had to get out of this place.
This job made me appreciate busting my ass. Having the chance to quit working here and go back to school to finish my degree was the goal. I always knew that I would, but looking back on this time of my life it was another stepping stone and I have a few people to thank for this. These are not in order of importance.
My parents: Thank you for making a gentleman out of me. Just because one comes from the South doesn't mean that one is born with "Southern Hospitality." You may not have pushed me hard to be the very best that I could be, but you gave me all of the support I could ever ask for. You allowed me to grow (slowly) into my own and were never too harsh. You were always loving and supportive and there to give good advice when I needed it. There are many things that one can work hard to achieve throughout life, but you've given me something that many will never come close to achieving...
A dear friend of mine once told me that I was one of the nicest people that he's ever known. Perhaps he didn't realize it at the time, but it was one of the greatest compliments that I've ever received. It may not seem like much to someone with awards and accolades to brag about. But, to me this simple compliment was in honor of you. Thank you.
Anthony C: For giving me a chance to start anew in the big city. For setting me up with a decent job and a place to stay until I could get back on my feet, again. For suggesting the idea that I should go back to school and finish my degree. Thank you.
Laura: Without you I wouldn't be here. You brought me back from a stagnant way of life that only an older sister and New York could have done. You showed me the ropes in the greatest city in the world. We've also grown closer than we've ever been and this never would have happened had you not suggested that I grow some balls and give New York a try. Without you there's no New York and all of the wonderful new experiences that I've known for the past decade.
I hope that, in some small way, I was able to make you feel the same. I wouldn't trade a single day of the last ten years for the world. Moving to New York was one of the best decisions that I've made and you made that all possible. Thank you.
Ashley: You've shown me more about myself and who I am (and can become) than I would have ever learned on my own. You've pushed me to be the best person I can be and gave me confidence in myself and my ability. You've opened my eyes and gave me the ability to see the world in its reality. You've taught me to lose the youthful gullibility and ignorance that many people never lose. You've loved me and have helped me become the person I am today. Somehow, I feel like mom guided me to you because she knew that you would be best for me, and I for you. For all that you have done and continue to do, thank you.
This post was supposed to be another "Shorehaven" story, but as I began writing I became nostalgic and remembered how it was that I came to this point in my life.
