i’ve stuck with 2455 through my time at marketsource, through early covid, through a sudden and not-well-received SD change, through a tumultuous and prolonged remodel, and through a dozen downturns in hours and resources. i was the 3rd most senior member of my team (tied for second, technically.) i’ve worked under some of the most egotistical incompetent hypocritical ETLs you can think of. i’ve been berated half a dozen times by one in particular for the crime of knocking on the bathroom door before trying the handle. yes, you. i didn’t like you either. i ducked my way though contradictory and ever changing standards on a daily basis. i suffered years of passive aggressive judgement for my chronic pain and IBS issues.

friends came and went. one of them remains my best friend to this very day and through them i met my beautiful girlfriend. another became the face i picture when i think of bravery and perseverance. i went though transition with target. i teared up when i saw my real name embossed on a name tag. i took pride in fulfillment work during those early days when it was an accessibility feature for those who couldn’t shop safely.

then, in just a month, i was written up twice. first for the error of sleeping through a callout window when i had covid and could barely sleep a wink, and then for supporting my partner when she got the wrong phone call and needed me. well, that was enough. i’m not dumb enough to believe that it’s my fault that the team and the store are suffering. i’m not dumb enough to blame myself or any of my teammates for corporate’s crushing campaign to squeeze metrics out of us while constantly stripping hours and resources. i won’t indulge the store leadership’s culture of passing the buck for every little thing that goes wrong down to the individual team member. before yesterday i thought i knew what the end of my rope felt like. i didn’t, but i do now.

bye target. i hope you don’t miss me because i know i won’t.

lastly, to the person who can’t stand hearing a knock on the door while they’re in the restroom, please hold the walkie a few more inches away from your face. i swear you could wake the dead.