Magazine Posts

Twas the way it was,
back in the day, early
1960's, working at my
first, full time job, in a
Corporate environment.

Hired as a Management
trainee, at Sears Roebuck,
in Moses Lake, WA. A Sears
catalog operations.
Sears was a Corporation which
had three means of doing business.
1) Direct mail
2) Retail Stores,
3) Catalog Sales Stores

My employment was in a
Catalog Sales office, administered
out of Seattle, where there was a
Catalog Merchandise Distribution
Center, aka, CMDC. Sears had
several of those across the United
States, from Chicago, Kansas City,
Philadelphia, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
More CMDC's would be added, in Florida,
and other spots as the Catalog Business,
was a growing business. Ironic when Sears,
who dominated the Catalog order business,
leaves the business, prior to Amazon.

(to be continued)

What did a trainee do, in a Catalog
Sales Office, CSO? Sweep the sidewalks,
in front, received freight from orders.
An archaic way to do business prior to
computers. Orders sent to the CMDC,
for filling. Shipments received, every
morning, except Saturday. We were
closed on Sunday.

Learning about credit. No credit cards yet.
Credit was maintained at each CSO.
If you didn't want credit, orders could be
made through Cash Sales or via Collect on
Delivery, COD. Merchandise returns could be
made at the CSO. Sears had Standard Operating
Procedures, or SOP. It provided a step by step
way to do everything. It became the bible for
me at Sears and all future jobs I had with other
organizations, at Advanced Technology Laboratories,
King County Medical, now Regence Blue Shield, or
KCMBS, my last place of employment.

I must explain about the bible. It served as a basis of
writing or understanding operational procedures. The only
differences were the "Buzzwords", unique to each business.
The format worked for everything.
I learned to read Profit and Loss statements, P&L's, Balance
Sheets, Budgeting, Inventory Control, Credit Essentials,
Freight Shipments and dealing with employees, which served
me well later in life at other organizations.

(to be continued) 

Coastal rain,
coastal tide,
where you may
wish to stay inside.

Love the Surf,
I truly do.
Love it more
when I'm with you.

All of the trips,
we chose to make,
gone now, forever,
goodness sake.

What happened
to all the bliss?
It ended there,
with our last kiss.

Would that I could,
see you again.
You are my love,
you are my friend.

Friendship, can complicate,
our journey through life,
when love was given,
though you weren't my wife.

My wife is gone,
now 5 months ago.
I'm looking for companionship,
with no place to go.

No one is interested,
in someone my age.
This fact is a given,
please turn the page.

Was there a time,
when we could tell,
our life was sweet,
then went to Hell.

Of course, there was,
we talked this through,
and visited Dr. after Dr.
there was nothing they could do.

So, suffer you did
for 10 years,
a miserable life,
with many a tear.

When Fate moves,
within your life,
taking with it,
the Soul of your wife.

Our luck was great,
for fifty plus years,
when Fate stepped in,
bringing so many tears.

It's been 5 months,
since she went away.
My heart still aches,
for her, every day.

Do I feel fortunate?
Why yes, I do,
but 10 years of misery,
for her was very new.

I've fond memories,
that is true,
but living without her,
just won't do.

I need to do
something good,
for me, so it
is understood.

Somethings not right,
Something is wrong,
my emotional state,
is running strong.

Sadness creeps within,
my Soul is so alone,
I can't seem to control,
until it's over and done.

Happy birthday to you,
my sweet little friend, Grace.
I would love to see you,
and your pretty face.

And so, it was,
when first we met.
A quiet place,
like a movie set.

You were sweet,
liking to smile
and those eyes,
oh, could they beguile.

Writing in the wee hours,
of the morning time,
was a way of clearing my mind.
of thoughts of useless rhyme.

Here I am again,
walking through,
the edge of sanity,
grief is hidden, too.

I am wrestling with
the sane part of my mind,
as I start the process of
untangling the pieces I find.

I thought I was past the process,
but realize while being supportive,
of others, I was not dealing with
my emotions, which I need to live.

Why? Geeze, I wish I knew.
The ups and downs every day,
have brought me fears of failure,
to care for my loved one. I will say,

I know that is not the truth,
but nevertheless, it is real,
in my present state of sanity.
This will be what I need to feel,

if I am to resolve these issues,
troubling as they are,
fixable, with therapy,
which I will try, near or far.

To love, with abandon,
those in your circle
of friends. Moments
pass too quickly. Then they're gone.