The Almost End of Another One

It would seem that we are staring at the end of another year. I hope that next year is wonderful for all of us. I can't say that 2008 is a year that I will miss, but I did get to start this blog this year, so who knows? Maybe things are looking up? 2007 and 2008 have given me quite a few challenges that I never thought I would have to face. I have experienced the death of a couple people, and good or bad, they are a loss. Ten years ago, if I had been able to see what lay ahead for me, I don't know if I would have smiled in anticipation, or run screaming for the covers. I hope, and that is one of the things that I am trying to give up for the next year. I don't mean to sound like a pessimistic dullard, I just want to learn not to anticipate things. I've said before-if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. I believe that with all my heart. I would have never imagined some of the changes that have come into my life in just 365 short days. The same can be said for that retail wonderment we all know and blog about. I have had over 1500 people read what I have written, and that flabbergasts me. I would have been happy to have 500 people give a rip about what I had to say,the idea that so many people are interested in what I think almost puts me into shock. It's a good thing I've never let my shyness overtake me, isn't it? But as for Walmart-I don't like the things that I see ahead. They seem determined to nickel and dime the associates into the poorhouse, while increasing every chance to take away hours from their schedules. I have written before of the similarities between Walmart and Kmart, and the similarities just keep piling up. Now that Walmart has effectively removed the job of so many department managers, and made them zone supervisors, or some such nonsense-what can be next? I am thinking that the days of the people greeter have got to be numbered. How in the world will Walmart be able to justify the expense of people who simply stand at the door and say hello to customers as they enter and exit? Never mind if they discourage theft, I imagine that the retirees and part time folks who staff the doors will be out of those very doors in the near future. And what about the personnel department? With assistant managers taking over many of those jobs-what will be left for the back office bunch to do? Associates are already responsible for keying in their own sick hours and vacation requests-in a hiring freeze, what's left to do? I suppose this entry has been rather pessimistic, but if things don't change at the retail wonder soon, it will be rather prophetic, don't you think? If it gives you a heads up on what is coming, you can thank me later.