One flew over the cuckoo's nest.

I had a truly horrible weekend at work--as in, half-hour-long-breakdown-in-the-backroom horrible. I'll spare you the details, but I had one run-in with a screaming customer on Friday (because we wouldn't let her access her elderly father's account)...which was bad enough (I had Saturday off, and I just carried that around with me all damn weekend; it REALLY bothered me). But then today, within an hour of starting my day, I had ANOTHER woman scream--SCREAM--at me, with true rage, because of a heated mattress pad that was cheaper online than in the store.

In both cases, I was able to both stand up for myself (variations of "I don't know why you're talking to me this way when I'm trying to help you") while also remaining relatively calm (i.e., not yelling back or jumping over the counter to kick their asses), but the 1-2 punch just really took its toll, physically. After politely smiling and wishing the second Bitch From Hell a nice day, I calmly walked to the back, where I proceeded to cry and tell my manager that "I don't think I can do this anymore."

I understand being mad, being frustrated, etc. But I just DON'T UNDERSTAND how some people seem to think it's okay to treat other people like this. I just don't. And I CANNOT go to a job every day where I have to be treated like that. I know myself too well, and it's only a matter of time before I really pop off at the mouth and get Penney's sued or something (and that's of you who have seen Angry Jen know exactly what I'm talking about). The good news is, I'm able to stand up for myself. The bad side of that is, I do have quite a temper and find it hard to bite my tongue in emotionally-heated situations.

I know this is "part of retail." But you know what? Then retail isn't for me, not even as a temporary thing. Because I just CAN'T work in a job and then have to hear, "It's just part of the job" as an explanation/excuse. (My managers are very nice, and I like the all, but you know what? That should NEVER EVER EVER be "part of the job," to take that kind of abuse--literally, verbal abuse--from another person, and just write it off as "some customers are like that. It's part of working in retail."

I told my mom that stores everywhere should compile a master Asshole List, and that bouncers should be posted at every door. ("I'm sorry, ma'am, but it appears that you're an Asshole. I can't let you in. Come back when you act like a civilized human being.")

Still, there is a positive side, I guess. As I wrote in a letter to my boys tonight, "It’s a kick in the butt from a higher power, keeping me from getting too comfortable where I am and losing focus of where I really need to be."

Which, after today, is in a strait jacket.