On the other hand M's mom and I went to a thrift store, the only option besides Goodwill & it has better stuff. But didn't find what I was looking for.

Did find a horrifying social studies workbook for home schooling that has Don't Tread on Me on the back. I bought it just to get one copy of out circulation . It was published here in Greenville. It talks about how minimum wage has been bad for workers and other things like that.

In my small city I literally can’t think of another place to work that isn’t another, smaller, college, back to retail, or taking a civil service exam!

That is wild.

Especially since (don't identify me bots) my city was once headquarters of Eastman Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch and Lomb. Plus lots of factories! We do still have Hickey Freeman tailors, I guess, but a very small company. The Rust Belt is real, and further east than you think....

Adding a plug (put it on Facebook) for someone from my little Rust belt high school who is a world class percussionist [link] In our little town in my class, we have got a doctor, a Harvard Educated NYT Best selling author, another doctor, this guy, and then me in our class ranking! I love him, but my main memory of him is that he took my paper notes on Heart of Darkness on the senior trip (which I did not go on)! I no longer bear ill will.

Okay, maybe I do :)

But this was also in 1991.

But also enjoyable to listen to!

Before I started my own business almost 34 years ago I had never worked anywhere for very long. I also worked Temp for years, which I loved. With temp positions I would be a a place usually 1-6 weeks. Long enough to get my bearings and know the people a bit, but not long enough for them to drive me crazy. I really enjoyed learning something about different types of businesses. I did bookkeeping so it could be a construction office, or a retailer, or professional office. I liked the variety.

I don't think I got any official gift when I hit 10 years with the BBC. IIRC my boss got me a Starbucks gift card (which was nice of her!)

When I hit 5 years at my current company I got...a different color badge. So people who see me in the office or in the company directory can tell I've worked here 5+ years. (If I'm still here at 10 years I'll get...a DIFFERENT different color badge.)

I also worked Temp for years, which I loved.

Yeah, I temped for more than 10 years. I was able to pay my rent and bills and just work 9 months in total out of the year. I'd work for two months then take three weeks off.

(If I'm still here at 10 years I'll get...a DIFFERENT different color badge.)

You're color coded! On the hand, instant visual bestowal of respect. On the other hand, when you get to the 30 years color badge, people will probably think you're a sad bastard.

a different color badge

At my company, they changed the badge color about four years after I was hired, so having the "old" badge was a (minor) mark of distinction.

Something similar with email addresses. They started out with firstinitiallastname@company.com, then had to start using firstname.lastname@company.com for new hires.

I got a little plaque and a branded keychain for my 5-year anniversary. I actually got them in year six, because year five was 2020, and everyone had other things on their minds. Totally fair—I didn’t think of it myself.

I got a musty, glass picture frame clock with a bad photocopy of a Maypole photo for 10 years. At 20, though, they do these cool wooden side tables with school logo on them. Anyone who retires after more than 10 years of service gets a beautiful wooden rocking chair (which we all mock for its agist overtones, but it is pretty).