Pompeii
The name "Pompeii" has a lot of meaning to me. My first job was at Escape from Pompeii at Busch Gardens. And now, I am back for my third season at that ride. As for the in betweens... since last summer... Walmart and Golden Corral, thanks for the experience but no thanks. I love Busch. It is a major challenge. But it is also a social ground, a sanctuary of sorts, a means for losing a good 20 pounds, and did i mention a challenge?
You see, I have quite the story to tell about this place. It is my secret place, though millions have passed through it. This year, I am the most experienced within the immediate crew members. Yes I feel more obligated to speak up when something isn't quite right or when someone isn't doing things right. And I will. For now, I am establishing myself as a human being before I go on my Pompeii crusade. Yes, that is a good phrase for what I wish to accomplish "Pompeii Crusade".
The first year was awesome. I had God, I was young and not experienced... and no one expected too much of me. I was on time, ready to roll, and glad to be there. And that was enough. I made no tight friends like I did the second year (last season).
So last year all of a sudden upper management starts cracking down hard on us all. For some reason the shitload always finds one or two people to really mess with. I was one of those. Granted, some of it was appropriate, and some not. The manner in which they took me away from Pompeii was shitty. I felt like an outcast. They might as well have handcuffed me and dragged me kicking and screaming. I do not feel like getting into the particulars... but too many tears were shed last summer. Too much anger built. And too many issues followed. How did summer number one fade away and the second summer become so vicious? I still ponder that.
Yes I have an emotional attachment to Pompeii. Only one person understands that... and that is Sarah, the only other returning member from last year. She knows what went down. I'm glad she is here. No one else I care about. And I wish to leave it at that.
I will prove everyone wrong this year. I will redeem what was taken from me. I will re-establish myself. And somehow I will find God and I will find me. God told me to go back. I thought it was nuts, given what happened last year. But I did so, and I guess I am just waiting for further instructions.
I did get a confirmation that it was He who had me go back. The supervisor who had a big hand in pulling me off last year, to remain nameless, was at the holy week services at one of the two Catholic churches I attend. We were sitting three people away in the same row, and I didn't even know it until I got communion and she was standing there letting me into the row. I stopped and looked at her... and when I sat down the emotions poured out... emotions I'd locked away from last year. And today I confirmed that she is still in the same supervisory position. I'm thankful. We have a connection now, whether she personally accepts that or not. But I saw her coming into the Catholic church. And I saw her shed a few tears. Those few tears almost even wash out all the many I shed last summer in late July/early August. If you don't know the whole story, you wouldn't get it.
So I have God, calling me back to the place that burned me last year. I have myself, lost to Him still but perhaps more willing to find Him since I'm where He led me now. Then there is this supervisor who I have a completely different view on now... who herself has come to God and in my witnessing of her doing so, affirmed the fact that God called me to Pompeii for this summer. And then there is Sarah, my good friend who knows the whole story of last summer... making it a little easier to cope and get over it, knowing someone knows and I do not have to explain anything to her.
And everyone else does not know the whole deal. Only God and I know everything... and maybe one of these days I'll write my novel on it... and it will be awesome... full of laughs, full of pain... all with life ahead to gain.
This is the beginning. I'm sure I'll write about this all summer long and then some. I'm leaving Golden Corral. Pompeii is my focus. God is my ultimate supervisor there. What is to come of this? Of me? Only time can tell.
You see, I have quite the story to tell about this place. It is my secret place, though millions have passed through it. This year, I am the most experienced within the immediate crew members. Yes I feel more obligated to speak up when something isn't quite right or when someone isn't doing things right. And I will. For now, I am establishing myself as a human being before I go on my Pompeii crusade. Yes, that is a good phrase for what I wish to accomplish "Pompeii Crusade".
The first year was awesome. I had God, I was young and not experienced... and no one expected too much of me. I was on time, ready to roll, and glad to be there. And that was enough. I made no tight friends like I did the second year (last season).
So last year all of a sudden upper management starts cracking down hard on us all. For some reason the shitload always finds one or two people to really mess with. I was one of those. Granted, some of it was appropriate, and some not. The manner in which they took me away from Pompeii was shitty. I felt like an outcast. They might as well have handcuffed me and dragged me kicking and screaming. I do not feel like getting into the particulars... but too many tears were shed last summer. Too much anger built. And too many issues followed. How did summer number one fade away and the second summer become so vicious? I still ponder that.
Yes I have an emotional attachment to Pompeii. Only one person understands that... and that is Sarah, the only other returning member from last year. She knows what went down. I'm glad she is here. No one else I care about. And I wish to leave it at that.
I will prove everyone wrong this year. I will redeem what was taken from me. I will re-establish myself. And somehow I will find God and I will find me. God told me to go back. I thought it was nuts, given what happened last year. But I did so, and I guess I am just waiting for further instructions.
I did get a confirmation that it was He who had me go back. The supervisor who had a big hand in pulling me off last year, to remain nameless, was at the holy week services at one of the two Catholic churches I attend. We were sitting three people away in the same row, and I didn't even know it until I got communion and she was standing there letting me into the row. I stopped and looked at her... and when I sat down the emotions poured out... emotions I'd locked away from last year. And today I confirmed that she is still in the same supervisory position. I'm thankful. We have a connection now, whether she personally accepts that or not. But I saw her coming into the Catholic church. And I saw her shed a few tears. Those few tears almost even wash out all the many I shed last summer in late July/early August. If you don't know the whole story, you wouldn't get it.
So I have God, calling me back to the place that burned me last year. I have myself, lost to Him still but perhaps more willing to find Him since I'm where He led me now. Then there is this supervisor who I have a completely different view on now... who herself has come to God and in my witnessing of her doing so, affirmed the fact that God called me to Pompeii for this summer. And then there is Sarah, my good friend who knows the whole story of last summer... making it a little easier to cope and get over it, knowing someone knows and I do not have to explain anything to her.
And everyone else does not know the whole deal. Only God and I know everything... and maybe one of these days I'll write my novel on it... and it will be awesome... full of laughs, full of pain... all with life ahead to gain.
This is the beginning. I'm sure I'll write about this all summer long and then some. I'm leaving Golden Corral. Pompeii is my focus. God is my ultimate supervisor there. What is to come of this? Of me? Only time can tell.