Working on Independence Day

If you work retail or have worked retail, you understand that you work every holiday. Thinking about, let alone asking off for a holiday is unthinkable.

I don't usually mind working holidays or holiday weekends because our family has never been big with the parties or big family get-togethers since we live ten driving hours from the nearest extended relative and most of the immediate family live five to twenty driving hours away.

I had to work yesterday, and I was okay with it until I got to work and started my shift. Then I got a little annoyed.

First of all, I realized people weren't just picking up last little things, which I assumed would be the case. No, they were doing their grocery shopping. Some were for parties, but most were regular everyday shopping. Now, I understand that you run your errands on your day(s) off. Today, I did my grocery shopping because I was off and finally had time to complete it. But come on people, you're going to do your grocery shopping on Independence Day? You're going to buy all of your party food three hours before the party? You had all weekend and the evenings up to the 4th to prepare. I'm not sure why it upset me so much, but I was actually getting annoyed.

Second people started commenting on me working the holiday. Customers would say, "Oh, I'm so sorry you have to work today." I would just stare at them while I was thinking, "Um, I'm working because of you. Why don't you do your shopping early, so we wouldn't have to be open. Why don't you stop expecting that all stores will still be open on all holidays." It was brutally hot yesterday (102 with high humidity), so customers told me I was better off working inside then being outside. Hmm, maybe they should let me judge for myself if I want to be inside (in my house or at work) or outside (pushing carts or going to a picnic).

Third, we were crazy busy. It wasn't just a couple of people who were doing their grocery shopping and picking up last minute items (because there were those too); there were hoards of people. It felt like Saturday busyness, but without all the people working on Saturday.

Fourth, I pondered staying open for holidays. I know in Europe, per Philip while on his travels, most everything is closed on Sundays and holidays. I can justify/understand staying open for holidays like Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, and Halloween. But I truly can't justify/understand staying open for your countries Independence Day. As a side note, I'm not the most "patriotic" person ever, but it is an exciting and momentous thing to celebrate. People should understand that and plan ahead, and companies should say we're closing for more than one day a year.

In conclusion, I came home a bit frustrated. I have vowed that I'm not going to be the person who is running to pick-up things on the day of a holiday because I will have planned ahead, and I will remember my frustration with people who use it as a time to run errands.