What I Did About Work in Still Listening to Spirit

Here's what I did:

Today at 1:45 AM

Heath I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to 'meet and talk' as you suggested Monday. I know you are busy as Skagway is deep into the profit center of the season.

I do want you to know that I am not returning to work for you. Life is too short and the problems too great an effort for me to expend any more energy at TKG. Time away has given me a clearer vision of what I want in my work life, and how that affects my personal life. Work was stressful and confusing before health issues with Bill came up and I do not expect that to change.

As well, there has been a continuing issue with just how much I was to be paid. At first a salary, then your declaration that everyone working for you was no longer on salary but would be paid by the hour.

Then we settled, and let pass, the misunderstanding over $17.50 an hour figure in our meeting in your truck at the Elks. One of the last things you said to me is "And, I'll pay you the $17.50 an hour."

My most recent paycheck was for $16 an hour. Now, I know I lost track of when I was sick, and possibly other days I missed and when I got that check, I was leaving town and unwilling to pursue the matter. At one point you told me not to worry about missed time, you would 'make it right' for me. So I do not know if I was paid for hours actually worked, or if you generously added hours. If you added hours for the days I wasn't there, I thank you.

I have been blessed in my work career here in Skagway and throughout my life to work for people who do what they say they're going to do and I need that back in my life.

Working for you has certainly been an eye-opening experience for me. You talked to me about your concern for your reputation here in Skagway and your efforts to change locals' perception of you, your business and your business management style. I will not speak negatively of my experiences working for you. I have no need to as my quitting will speak louder than any words I could say.

If I am owed any wages, please send the check to me at PO Box 139, Skagway, 99840. Cindy

Heath did not call me back on Monday after he put me off on the phone. I wanted to be sure to resign before he fired me. Silly? Maybe, but... So at 1:41AM I began writing this e-mail. when I thought I got it just right, I sat for a long time debating whether to save it as a draft or just hit send.

I knew from Facebook that Nita in North Carolina was awake and online and I thought about calling her and asking her to read this. I sat quietly, no, it felt right in every way so I hit 'send' and off it went.

I IM'd Nita and sent her a copy. She wrote back with a big "WOW, just WOW!" and quoted me "Honesty is the absence of excuse or blame" and that I carried that off magnificently.

This is the email Heath sent back at 4:21am, who knew he checked emails at that time of morning.

Cindy, I know your going through a tough time (as my family is doing the same). I truly wish you the best of luck in the future. I know the job was not a bowl of cherries for sure, and i apologize for that! We had many set backs and unforeseen hurdles that kept us disorganized and stressed out this year. With all that being said, I tried to be as fair and generous as I could while taking into account the needs of the company and your personal situation. We will pray for your husbands speedy recovery. I do now, and always will, speak highly of you, and I consider you a good friend. I sincerely hope you feel the same. I will back date a pay check adjustment for you with the $17.50/per hour rate and I will mail it to your PO Box. Sincerely,

Heath

So, I am done. It's over with.

I met with Madame today and she gave over the paperwork for prebooks and explained a couple of things. I explained to her the missing piece she has in doing her bookkeeping by paper on the tour sales with other vendors. It will save her countless hours checking back when it comes time to pay their invoices.

She also would like for me to begin to sell things for her on ebay. She says this is something she knows she could make money from, but has never had the time to do although she has made some money from it in the past. I told her I would certainly consider that although it kind of scared me--don't know why. She said she would just take photos, send them to me and I could write description, do the mailing and so on. The mailing--getting out and doing it day after day was the biggest impediment for her.

Madame says she is trying to think of ways I can make money without being out with the public if I choose.

It was wonderful sitting with Madame and visiting after we conducted business. She was opening what looked like a month's worth of mail at her dining table, so I sat with a letter opener and slit the envelopes then put them in a pile so she could just extract the contents and put them in the appropriate pile.

A surprisingly calm and quiet time at her house--very unusual as it is most times filled with people. Today there was only Nadine and she was in and out quietly.

Okay, I am done for now. Blessed be!