A Long Day

That's the only way to describe June 9, 2012.

It all started with nerves as I woke up when I realized today was the day I had to take my Praxis 2. I hadn't been nervous before because I was busy and because I hadn't studied much. I started studying, and it only made me more nervous, so I decided to just rest on my good attention throughout my classes and my good grades. But wow, the nerves hit this morning.

I arrived at the testing center almost an hour early, and actually it was an hour from when we arrived to when they finally let us start the test. The test started at 10:45. I headed into the building at 10:18. I found the room, used the restroom, and the next time I looked at the clock it was 10:28. I stared at the people around me trying not to make eye contact since I'm not Philip.

10:32, only 4 minutes passed? More staring at people; a brief conversation with another test taker. She tells me she's been studying like crazy for this test; she's also taking the middle school content. I withhold the information that I haven't studied at all.

10:38, good it's been 6 minutes and not 4. It would be uncanny if I looked at the clock only every four minutes. More staring and eavesdropping. I overhear fellow test-takers discussing if they can get a refund if they sign up for the test date in July to be safe, but manage to pass this one. I swallow and pray I don't have to retake this. I already had to pay $130; I don't want to pay another $130.

10:42, crap. What's with the 4 minutes??? Why can't it be 10:45 yet? I just want to start this test. My stomach is in knots, and I'm not feeling so great right now.

10:45, finally.

10:48.

10:50. Now they tell us what to do.

After that, we all filed into the testing room and were sent to our assigned seats. The rules/stipulations were read, we filled out our form.

11:09. Start the test.

Next commences two brutal hours of testing. My test had 120 questions--30 language arts/reading comprehension, 30 mathematics, 30 social studies, and 30 science. All those subject areas are super broad (hence the not knowing how to study and another reason for not doing it). The questions in each section were various and very specific. Don't ask me to explain because I'm trying to block it from my mind.

I stare at some of the questions having no clue how it's possible for me to eliminate any answers because I don't even know what they're talking about. I only have one or two of those. Most of the others, I narrow down and make an educated guess. Foolish me didn't bring a calculator, so I work out all the math problems by hand. I can't double check my answers.

I start watching the clock now that I have less than an hour left. I finish all the answers with 15 minutes to spare. I don't look at any of the questions. I've never, ever gone back through a whole test. Once in a while I'll star questions, but once I put down an answer I leave it. I anxiously wait the 15 minutes. I want to leave an curl in a ball. I keep thinking about how badly I thought it went.

I leave and dash to the car. As we leave, I continue to process, and realize I did work hard on the test. I took the test early enough, so if I don't pass, I have plenty of time to retake. The Lord's in control of this situation just like He's in control of all the situations in my life.

I'm exhausted and discouraged when I arrive home. Yet, I can't call it a day. June 9, 2012, is our public high school's graduation which means I must work the night shift at The Grocery Store.

It's a good thing I took a nap before I left.

It's blistering hot with humidity too. (I live in WI; there's always humidity). I arrive at 5. By 5:15, I'm on carts. Cart retrieval has to be one of the worst jobs in the world. Rain, snow, or shine carts must be brought in which means someone must retrieve them. You're sent on carts when the cart rack is almost empty which means you have hundreds of carts to bring in. It usually means you're busy, so there are great amounts of cars in the parking lots, and people and cars coming and going non-stop. Most cars and people don't pay attention to you, so you have to stop all 7-16 carts you're currently pushing.

I don't usually mind carts because it means I get a break from cashiering and customers. Yet, I was the only one sent to retrieve the carts since two UC's had "injured" themselves and couldn't bring them in, and the cart rack was almost empty.

At 6, they tell me to come in. I hadn't cleared the whole parking lot. I did head in twice for water. When it's hot and I'm active, my face gets super red, very flushed. Anyone looking at me will think I have a sunburn. Plus I'm positive I smell nasty because of the rivers of sweat pouring down my back, neck, and face.

Then I commence to check people out for 2 1/2 hours with maybe a minute here or there without a customer. That's normal; that I can handle. The rest of the night commences as expected--double coupon day with less workers because of scheduling issues because of graduation.

At 10, I have a customer who has seven transactions which take me 30 minutes total because I don't have a bagger, and she's a tad crazy. She wanted to do all sorts of things against store policy. The worst part was that she tried to be sweet about it all, but she was really nasty and mean. She had a, "I deserve this; you must make it work" attitude. She thought we were all idiots. I kept my calm throughout it all even though I really didn't want to. Getting upset wouldn't have helped anything. I swear, Saturday nights I get the worst customers. I don't know if it's because I'm extra tired, or it's double coupon day, or the awful customers decide to frequent the store especially on Saturday nights.

The store closed at 11, but still my night wasn't finished. The CSR and I had to finish getting the carts in for the night. Working together, we finished them and were done by 11:15.

Now, that I've detoxed through writing my long day, aka, June 9, 2012, has finished*. I'm heading to bed. As my song says, "Goodnight, and travel well." 

 *Yes, I realize it's technically now June 10, 2012, but I haven't slept yet, so the day hasn't switched in my mind.