I see Nona's name on these posts quite a bit and that always stirs up strange memories. Weird nights in the dairy cooler, s---ing out all the nitrous in the whip cream canisters, whole cases of them; the hippie kid screaming behind the locked bathroom door as he passed a kidney stone. Eventually, things got so left handed that I was tying up gallons of milk with the clingy plastic from the pallets and hanging them from the ceiling in the cooler. I'd take a broom and whack them while they hung there suspended like soft, white pinatas, spilling milk all over the floor. I was a Leche King. I knew this was a game of dogs and masters. Oh, Wild eyed Nona from the Lowlands...
But, that was a long time ago. I did over twenty years in the Hole.
I gave the Hole much more importance than it was worth while I was in it and I did it while totally resenting my job. I worried about my job, took pleasure in it at times, built families and friendships, saw births, deaths, rampant drug abuse, sεxual indiscretions, bizarre and banal office politics, theft, violence, ignorance, greed, as well as unbelievable acts of human kindness and love.
I survived tornadoes, fires, multiple health department visits, regional concepts that had no weight in reality, burns, cuts, falls, poisoning, allergic reactions, hostile and violent customers, security guards with power complexes, robberies, religious zealots, new age drop outs, and water in a box.
I even survived a meeting with John Mackey himself. He is an odd character. I could be wrong, but I think he actually believes in what he says, which is far more dangerous than your typical food hustler or car salesman. His focus is trained on a very thin, narrow line of self importance dipped in grandeur, his eyes slightly vacant, his body given to shimmer with the glow of a praying mantis looming over a giant bowl of quinoa.
But, I write this because I felt it important to tell those of you who are still inside - There is life outside the Hole. I know some of you can't escape yet and I understand. It's not easy. But, dream. Don't give up.
My best to all the soldiers who are still in there having to fight. Just remember, you have choices and your dreams are important. What you want is important. Peel away the idea of Company and you'll find no one is really in charge. You'll find out that you are.