Breakfast and Aunt Terry

When I worked for Sam Goody I transferred to Pittsburgh for about a year and it was pretty decent for my retail career. By the time I left, I was Assistant Manager and became the Book Specialist at their concept store Media Play in Columbus, OH. It was a long road before I got there, though.

My first stint in Pittsburgh was a full time associate at their Forbes Avenue location, right on campus. It was the largest store in Pittsburgh and had two floors. I usually worked downstairs which housed things like singles, classical and show tunes. Shortly after, I was asked to interview for a Third Key position in the Greensburg store which was about an hour away. I jumped at the chance to move up in the company, but I didn't have a car. My roommate and friend, Simon was nice enough to let me borrow his brand new car and let me commute to Greensburg. I'm sure the raise I received was not enough to compensate me for the commute, but it was worth the shot to move up. I was also still working part time for JC Penney and this promotion allowed me to quit that job.

When I first went to the interview and met Store Manager, Kim, I knew that I had made the right choice. Kim and I quickly became fast friends. She knew that I moved there with only Simon as my friend and she took me into her life and her family. I met her cousin's family and her aunts. Kim was living with her Aunt Terry and I was invited to come over all of the time. I loved Aunt Terry. She was someone who said it like it was, called it what it was and never took a bullshit answer. She told great stories and made me laugh hysterically.

Kim would take me bowling with her cousin and their friends. Sometimes I would have a little too much to drink and she would let me stay with her at Aunt Terry's. Aunt Terry had only one condition when you stayed at her house- you could make yourself at home, but if you took a shower, do NOT use one of her shower scrunchies. That was the only condition. Totally something I could live with- I used a washcloth instead.

When Kim and I woke up in the morning, we would walk into the kitchen where Aunt Terry had coffee ready and would be smoking a cigarette at the kitchen table. I would be half asleep with my hair sticking up in random places and she would ask, "Hot or cold?" I would usually say cold and she would get out the Diet Coke for me. Kim would say hot and get a cup of coffee. We would sit there, sometimes switching off from hot and cold drinks and smoke a half pack of cigarettes. If we were hungry, Aunt Terry would fix us breakfast. She'd ask what we wanted and she would fix whatever we requested. She always had whatever we wanted on hand. Kim and I would gossip and reflect on Sam Goody turmoils and Aunt Terry knew all of the characters in each story as if she worked there herself. Sometimes Aunt Mare would come over to visit for a few minutes as she lived next door with Kim's Grandmother.

After fourth quarter at the Greensburg location, I was promoted to Assistant Store Manager at the Forbes Avenue location- the store that I began my Pittsburgh career in- and it was very close to home- I could even take the bus. I was very excited to move up and the District Manager, Teresa became a big fan of mine, promising to get me even higher, very quickly.

Once, I was trying to avoid everyone in my life and Aunt Terry totally understood. This was before I had a cell phone or computer and I didn't want anyone to be able to get a hold of me for a few days- I just needed to escape before I had a major anxiety attack and breakdown. Aunt Terry told me to stay with her. I did. She cooked for me- breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each morning, she asked me, "Hot or Cold?" and over a few cigarettes, she would debate with me whether I should stay another night or go home. It was a few days before I could face the world again and I could face it because of Aunt Terry. She was a great sounding board for me and always gave me great advice. I loved her as if she was my own Aunt.

I am so thankful that Kim was my friend and that she introduced me to Aunt Terry. Between the two of them and my roommate Simon, they kept me on track in Pittsburgh, a new city where I knew few people. Aunt Terry kept in touch with me for many, many years- she sent me a Christmas card every year until I moved so much, she probably couldn't keep up with my address. I miss her terribly and wish I could hear her ask me "Hot or Cold?" again. I am still in touch with Kim and am forever grateful for what she has taught me in the retail business. Ironically, one of my idols, one of the few Retail Goddesses I have worked with is no longer in retail and here I am, still going.