It absolutely boggles my mind that 25 years ago this weekend, I started working at Borders Bookstore.

I got the job there because I wanted to pay off my car loan.  And plus, it's a bookstore, I mean, DUH!  What better place is there to work, right?  

It was the best job I ever had. 

It was there also that I met some of my best friends, even being so now: A Local Celebrity, Mr. David ParisPeking, his wife, as well as Ghostie, the Dead Boy Wonder.  There were a lot of other people there that I met and am still friendly with.  In fact, in the last ten days or so I've done things with three of them.   And I still follow on Facebook and/or send Christmas cards to at least a dozen, if not more, of the people I worked with there.  I worked about an equal amount of time at CVS ten years prior to this and there's only on coworkers from there I keep in contact with.  Hell I've been in my 'real' job almost 29 years currently and there's less people there on my Christmas card list than there is from Borders!

I have such memories from that place, most of them great, a few not so much.  I can remember if not by name at least by face most of the people I worked with, including Nina, who trained me my first night there, and all five of the Jens (Jen, Jennifer, Jenny, The Jen V!, and the other Jen but I don't remember what we called her). 

I remember the midnight movies a group of us when to see (the opening night releases of some Star Wars prequel trilogies and Lord Of the Rings movies), all the trips to TGIFridays after closing on Friday nights, the Harry Potter new book releases, the Teacher Appreciation nights, the party at Manager Andy's house where I got shitfaced drunk, among many others. 

I can even recall the four people who have died that I worked with...wonderful people all. 

Such great times, such great people to work with.  Honestly, I miss that place.

POLT