The Trophy Stapler

Just over three years ago I began working at the Container Store. It was a job, and I needed a job. It worked out well that way. I fell in love with a stapler that was sold in the office department, and despite getting a lovely 40% discount on purchases, I couldn't justify buying it, as I already had a perfectly serviceable stapler at home.

I knew I wasn't going to spend forever at my job. I knew it wasn't my calling, I wasn't going to make it my career. I considered attempting to 'go full time', the pay was alright- they offered benefits- and I had no other real calling in life. But that isn't enough to get a full time job there. They want your life, they want your soul. You have to eat, breathe, sleep and dream the store, products, and 'store philosophy'.  I couldn't do it. I couldn't make myself jump through the required hoops, nor would I celebrate the rewarding challenge of selling an idea. Mostly because I didn't actually find it to be rewarding.

So that stapler, I knew it'd be the last thing I would ever buy at the store with my discount. I knew that I'd continue to wile away my days and bide my time until I figured out which direction I should move on to.

A few days ago a friend of mine who works at a doctor's office called to let me know that they might be hiring. I was standing in the middle of an apple orchard upstate when she rang. It was a gorgeous day. I was surrounded by family. There were apples and presents and my niece and I sat in the sunshine and shared our birthdays. I suspected I'd get a pair of plain gold hoop ear rings from my parents, as I'd gone beyond hinting and flatly asked for them. Instead I got gold clover shaped hoops and a matching necklace. It wasn't what I asked for, but they were lovely and sweet. Also, they are apparently Heidi Klum's  lucky charm.

 I scrambled to an interview on Monday morning before my regularly schedule shift at the store. I managed to pull myself together enough that I actually looked a little cute, mostly professional and of course, I wore the new-lucky jewelry.  Monday night Lorna came to visit for a few days. While we were eating at Superfine in DUMBO on Tuesday I got the call. "I want you to give notice" he said. I'd give him a confirmed end date and we'd set a start date on Wednesday. Lorna and I took a water taxi, wandered the village, stopped in lovely shops, shared a cupcake at Magnolia bakery, picked up a few baubles at Marc Jacobs, and made our way over to the Container Store. It was time.

I thought I had a list of other things I wanted to buy, a last list of things to take advantage of my employee discount. But as I walked the aisles I realized that I just didn't want to waste my money on any more of that crap. I was ready. I picked out my stapler and waited on line. I made nice with my coworkers, paid for the shiny thing and flagged down the manager to give my notice.

It's silly the things you think about in the middle of major life changes. I'll miss the friends I made during my three years at the store. Some I grew very close to. Brian, Qincy, Brandon... I'm sad just thinking about it. I once had an awful temp job on a graveyard shift in an office somewhere on long island. I befriended a girl who told me straight up that she didn't want to make friends with people who weren't going to be in her life once she stopped working there. I don't remember her name. I remember the feeling of driving away from her house after dropping her off one morning thinking to myself that I'd never see her again.

I have my stapler and my memories. Thank you to my coworkers at the Container Store who kept me sane when everything else in the environment was leading me elsewhere. I'm already forgetting the 9 hour shifts, the insane overnights with a 1980s soundtrack, and the HOT teams. When I get to my new job tomorrow, I'll sit down for you all. That's right, SIT! on my ass! And get paid for it.

the stapler