The Coworkers

I'm a very different person than the majority of my coworkers. Sometimes I'm a bit of a snob about this and I'm trying to work on that. Because every once in a while one of them surprises me with a talent or a piece of intelligence or a good observation on something and I feel ashamed at my general superiority complex. And I'm definitely not the best when it comes to my job. I'm not a bad collector because I'm impeccably organized and generally hard working, but I'm a total pushover, so I'll never be one of the best.

About a month ago I remember a group of them crowed around the computer looking at pictures of present and former inmates on the Utah County jail website. "He's cute." "Adam looks like such a dork in that picture." "I think mine looks hot in his picture." After a second of eavesdropping, I realize that they're looking up their present and former husbands and boyfriends. And all of them had someone that had been in jail before. Not fair. I'm pretty sure I've never had a boyfriend who's been in jail.

When I bring up school there are a few who always tell me how jealous they are. "Do you think I want to be working here for the rest of my life?" "I wish I could've finished school but I got pregnant and the little ones have to come first don't they?" "It's always been out of my budget to think about college." And I think of what a moron I am sometimes to waste this precious time I have of being fairly independant and able to get a proper education. Even though I really don't like school, it certainly beats the alternative.

One of my first weeks at the job and I remember hearing one of the girls who I'd pretty much dismissed as an idiot singing along to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and she knew all the lyrics. I don't care who you are, you have to look up the lyrics to that song and spend some time with them to know all the lyrics, as they're pretty indecipherable at just a casual listen. I know it's a ridiculous little thing, but I decided I ought to have more respect for her then and there.

We have a mutual understanding about who each other are and are okay with it, though. Sometimes I'll go outside during smoke breaks and I always get offered a cigarette in jest and it's a nice relationship we have.

Coworker: Andrea, you ought to come clubbing with us one of these nights, I've totally gotten in people under 21 before.
Me: Haha, no thanks, not really my thing.
Coworker: Just thought I'd ask.
Me: But you're welcome to come over and play State of the Union Bingo with me tonight instead.
Coworker: Haha, no thanks, not really my thing.
Me: Just thought I'd ask.

And yes, State of the Union Bingo was the activity of the evening last night. It was a good time.