Midtown

…Pole town, on Detroit’s east side, was a real place for me growing up as a young child. I had fond memories of the relatives who loved me. They would tell me so in both the Polish and English languages trying to tickle me as I ran from their grasp. I remember the markets, the clothing stores, the weddings, the celebrated holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and sadly, the funerals. I remember the churches as well. St. Stanislaw, St. Albertus, St. Hyacinth, Immaculate Conception, St. Josaphat, Sweetest Heart of Mary, St. Cyril, Resurrection, St. Bartholomew, and St. Rita were all East Side Detroit Roman Catholic Parishes I had been in at one time or the other for mass.

… I had a decision to make about my future. My heritage and identity came from all those churches and neighborhoods located close to the medical center. I was even born in one of the Detroit Medical Center’s Hospitals, Women’s Hospital, now called Hutzel Hospital. I felt a real connection. and the need to return. However, I would now have to leave UPS for good. Permanent goodbyes were not always easy for me, but I knew I had to move on. I had interviewed in the morning at Harper Hospital, and tonight I might be saying goodbye to my friends at UPS. I made sure to get a goods day sleep before returning to UPS to what possibly would be my last week working the night shift there.

… I pulled in the UPS parking lot to report to work. Sam had pulled up next to me as well. I had informed him of my interview with Harper Hospital but I hadn’t had the chance to tell him how it went. He was all ears. I told him they offered me two different positions and that I would have to choose one. He was happy for me and thought the bosses would go nuts. I was the last part-time worker still working there out of the twenty they had hired. He was absolutely correct as usual. I had informed my supervisor after clocking in that this would be my last week working here. He gave me a blank stare, like a deer in the headlights of a car, and then he said, “what did you say?” The following expression I would enjoy using at least four more times in my life: “I will no longer be working here because I have accepted other employment.” He shook his head yes, “that’s what I thought you said.”

. ..He looked bewildered but left. Sam was standing next to me and thought our boss was in shock. He didn’t tell me where to start working, and Sam told me just start unloading trailers with him. He continued, “if they need you they’ll find you.” I thought that was a good plan and followed Sam to the dock where we began unloading the trailers. It didn’t take long for the boss to find me but this time he was with a guy dressed in a black Brooks Brother’s pinstripe suit. He had on a white monogrammed cuffed shirt, red silk tie. and plain black but shiny Oxford shoes. Sam would later identify him as the Chief Executive Officer. He wanted to speak with me, I wiped my brow from sweat, I climbed out of the trailer, and stood in front of him. I knew from the look on his face I wasn’t smelling as good as his cologne, and he looked perplexed.

…He wanted to know why I was leaving. I didn’t waste his time and informed him I had a better opportunity. I felt the UPS reorganization of the work load had prevented me from enrolling in the winter semester. I was being required to stay more than five hours a day. I didn’t sign up for that. I needed that work schedule to stay the same, and it didn’t. He realized I was dead serious. I explained the promises about bonuses and pay raises never really made a difference to me. It was the work schedule I needed for school. They couldn’t or wouldn’t make that happen for me. I didn’t give him any more information than that. I could have gone on about the stress, the other part time students leaving, but I was sure he knew all of that. He thanked me for my honesty, and left with my boss. I had a phone call to make today and I felt reenergized. ……My Life’s Journey…To Be Continued… Psalm 23