Thursday, October 04, 2007

A Good Old Boy

Back in 2000, I was in sales at the dealership where I currently work. There was a woman there that was the accountant, lets call her Satan. She was an idiot. She was sleeping with the owner. She was one of the physically ugliest women I have ever seen. Part of that was her attitude, but part of it was that she was over six foot tall and very wide, but not fat, and she had no sense of fashion, and frizzy stick-straight-out-dark-hair and braces on her teeth and no chin and huge thighs...you get the picture. She didn't like me, and the feeling was mutual, but I did what i needed to, just to get by. One day, I had taken more from her than I could stand. I went to the owner and gave him my two weeks notice. He asked me not to leave. I told him that i could not stand Satan any longer, I wouldn't put up with any more of her shit. I told him it was her or me. He said he would gladly let her go, but he knew of no one that could do her job. I told him that SHE wasn't doing her job, that any monkey could do her job as well as SHE could. He asked if I meant that. I told him that I did, but I didn't understand why he asked, really. He then said, okay, I was hired. Not being one to back down from a challenge, I said okay. He then called in an accounting specialist, a "consultant", to teach me GM (GENERAL MOTORS) ACCOUNTING, named Leroy, and fired Satan. On the spot. Oh shit. I had been an accountant of sorts, I mean, I had run several business' in the past, and I ran my own checkbook for heavens sake, how hard could it be? When Leroy came in the next morning, I could hear him yelling at owner, saying "what in the hell are you thinking----she can't do it!" That REALLY pissed me off. He didn't know me from Adam. He was right, of course, but he didn't know that. So when we met, I told him so. I said "How in the hell do you know I can't do it?" He answered "Can you?" I said "Let's find out." And we did. And I learned. And six months later, he apologized to me. And he is one of my dearest friends to this day. I love him like a dad. He is seventy one years old, completely white headed, and he has forgotten way more than I will ever know about the job that I do. I love him to death. And he came in to see me at work yesterday, and it totally made my day. :) He really is one of the original GOOD OLD BOYS, part of the mindset that women have their place and should stay in it, that General Motors was a small company, the kind of guy where business is done with a bottle on the desk and a handshake, but I seriously love him and I know he loves me. He really never has figured me out. And he respects me, and that was seriously hard earned, and worth every bit of sweat. Now he asks me questions, he never has caught on to this new-age computer system, and when he needs tax advice....anyway, he really did make my day. And recently, my days need some sunshine.

I am still at home this morning, it is nearly nine. I am trying to figure out how I am going to make it up to the shower and then into the car. I am not doing too well. I did hear back from my Dr's office yesterday, he is out of town until tomorrow, although they are going to send yet another medication. I really don't need another one, the ones that i have work just fine, I just can't function on them. But I am the one who has called them repeatedly, what else can THEY do, but send medication? I am about to the give up point. I don't really know what that means, but in my current drug induced state, it sounds right.

I hope that you all have a great Thursday. I am off to do the best I can. Later.

8 comments:

Angel said...

way to kick some ass girl!!!

SOUL said...

hey jamie.
nice little story there.
see what happens, when ya put your mind to something?
you aren't at the give up point.. it only feels like it. your doc will be in tomorrow. one more day, then maybe you will know something, or at least get some more functionable meds. something. anything.
just hold on ok.

i hope you aren't working too hard today.

take it easy til ya see the doc. i know you hate it, but take the meds and rest as much as you can.

answers will come soon.

hugs!

Amanda said...

Now if that isn't inspiring I don't know what is! :)

josie2shoes said...

I loved this Jamie! First of all, God sent you a special visitor yesterday, just when you most needed one to brighten up the day a little. I also loved that your determination changed him from an attitude of "she can't do it" to admiration and respect. Your whole life has been about proving that you CAN do it, and I believe that you can and will find the strength and determination to get thru the health nightmare that you struggle with now. So the doc is outta town huh? And he has no associates or back-ups for emergencies. Lovely, just figgin lovely. Obviously, he is NOT the one in pain. And I hear you on more medications - putting band-aids on bulletwounds, and then you can't even function. Grrrr Do you have an appointment to see him tomorrow? I sure hope so! (((hugs))), Jos

Pen said...

I am sorry to hear that you are having some medical problems. More to the point, I am sorry I never came and read before and didn't already know this!

Your story was heart warming. It is a very telling example of the whole, "you think you know someone" scenario, and you played it well. Thanks for sharing this :o) I hope you feel better.

CCC said...

I hope your Friday kicks ass...that's all I wanted to say. Also -- cool little story. ;)

Summer said...

Tres cool story as my friend ac would say.

How are you feeling today?

Portia said...

guys like that never figure women out...but i'm glad you guys became good friends. and that he made your day!! oh, and you had me rolling with that description of satan!
:)