Get a Real Job

I work two jobs. I wake up every morning at 3:30 (except mornings when I snooze relentlessly, because fuck waking up that early) and head to my first job working for HP. I work full time, 40 hour weeks here. Most nights, after I get off work at HP, I head home, have an hour to burn in which I make dinner, and then I head over to my second job, where I host and bus tables. I work between 60 and 70 hour weeks. Why? Because I want to get married, and have children, and be debt free. If I work my ass off now, then I can have all these things sooner. Also I have a lot of medical bills that I'm trying to pay off on top of everything else.

Yesterday, while I was busing a table, something happened. Something that really grinds my gears.

Let me start by saying that I don't understand how some people can be such ignorant fucks. Do not make comments about someone's lifestyle or work ethic unless you know who they are, who they truly are. You may see some 40 year-old working at McDonalds and think "loser get a real job." I have been guilty of this, and will not deny it. But I do not say these things to them because I DO NOT KNOW THEM! For all I know, they could have gotten laid off from a high paying position and couldn't find work anywhere else, and are just doing what they have to so that they can support their family. I have made comments to friends before, and they are always the ones to tell me to stop being a bitch. (This is why I love my friends. They keep me in line.)

Yesterday, I really got to see what it was like to be on the other side of this. I was the one being judged for my choice in work. I learned a valuable lesson about working people, whether they are working at Microsoft, or McDonalds... At least they are working. At least they have a job.

This is what happened.

The restaurant I work at is placed in a little strip mall, and the space next to us is taken by a spa. Every once in a while, they will give massages outside, right next to where I bus tables. Yesterday, as I walked outside, there were 2 ladies at the spa, one of them was getting a massage while the other was sitting with the baby next to her.

The owner of the spa was giving the massage, gave me a smile and said, "You come get massage, too!"

He has an accent, although I'm not sure where he's from. He has always been a nice guy.

I replied, "I wish! I'm too poor right now."

This is when it happened. The girl that was sitting down opened her mouth to speak. This is what she said.

"Maybe you should get a real job."

Bitch did not just say that to me! I was infuriated. I was embarrassed. I was in shock. And what did I do? I simply smiled at her, finished busing the tables, and walked back inside.

First off, my job IS a real job. I work my ass off everyday. I am running, greeting, busing, sweating, stressing and yelling all night, trying to make sure that everything runs smoothly. I'm sure she wouldn't recognize hard work if it slapped her in the face.

Secondly, you don't know me. I work my ass off at two jobs trying to make ends meet and pay off my bills. Who the fuck are you to tell me that this isn't a real job? That I'm poor because I don't work? You don't know me!

It took me about 30 minutes to realize that I had been put in my place. That when my friends had told me to stop being a bitch, they were right. Who am I to say that some guy working at McDonalds isn't trying? I don't know him. I don't know his life, or the struggles he's going through. I was one of the ignorant assholes, and I had no idea.

This is where I apologize. To anyone who has ever worked, or had a job, whether it be fast-food, or a Fortune500 company. At least you are working. I am sorry for assuming that McDonalds was a "crappy" job. It is a job, and for that, I commend you. A working person is a working person. Never again will I ever judge someone based on where they work or what they do for a living. At least they are trying. I am sorry for being such an ignorant asshole.

For those of you out there who have never experienced this kind of judgement, I am happy for you. For those of you who throw out this judgement and assume that any job is a "lesser" job, I hope that this will open your eyes. I have experienced first hand what it is like to be judged based on where I work, and I can tell you that it made me feel like shit. Even though I knew that I work my ass off, it hurt my feelings to know that others couldn't see that. To know that others assumed that I was poor by choice, and that I wasn't trying. I am trying as hard as I can. Please don't judge me based on what you have seen of me. Please don't judge anyone based on what you see of them. You don't know what they're going through.

I am sorry. To the lady who made that comment yesterday, I hope that, somehow, you see this. So that I can say thank you for opening my eyes. Even though I still think you're a little bit of a bitch, I have seen what a bitch I was. You taught me a very valuable lesson, and for that, I am grateful.