Daddy ... it hurts

I got the following from my son's myspace. I don't know who wrote it but I felt it was worth passing along, as it asks. I hope it touches you as deeply as it touched me.



My name is Chris,
I am three,
My eyes are swollen.


I cannot see.


I must be stupid,
I must be bad,
What else could have made,
My daddy so mad?
I wish I were better,
I wish I weren't ugly,
Then maybe my mommy,
Would still want to hug me.


I can't speak at all,
I can't do a wrong,
Or else I'm locked up,
All day long.


When I'm awake,
I'm all alone,
The house is dark,
My folks aren't home.


When my mommy does come home,
I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll just get,
One whipping tonight.


I just heard a car,
My daddy is back,
From Charlie's bar
I hear him curse,
My name is called,
I press myself,
Against the wall.


I try to hide,
From his evil eyes,
I'm so afraid now,
I'm starting to cry.


He finds me weeping,
Calls me ugly words,
He says its my fault,
He suffers at work.


He slaps and hits me,
And yells at me more,
I finally get free,
And run to the door.


He's already locked it,
And I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me,
Against the hard wall.


I fall to the floor,
With my bones nearly broken,
And my daddy continues,
With more bad words spoken.


'I'm sorry!', I scream,
But it's now much to late,
His face has been twisted,
Into a unimaginable shape.


The hurt and the pain,
Again and again,
O please God, have mercy!
O please let it end!
And he finally stops,
And heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless,
Sprawled on the floor.


My name is Chris,
I am three,
Tonight my daddy,
Murdered me.


And you can help,
Sickens me to the soul,
If you read this,
and don't pass it on.......
I pray for your forgiveness,
You would have to be,
One heartless person,
Not to be affected,
By this Poem.


And because you ARE affected,
Do something about it!
So all I ask you to do,
Is pass this on!

IF YOU ARE AGAINST CHILD ABUSE!
Post this as 'Daddy ... it hurts'

3 shopping days left

Thankfully I only work two of them. I have an 8 hour shift tonight, I expect to busy but Wednesday will be worse. I only work 4 hours Wednesday because we close at 6:00 that day. And that is when the fun begins. We have to get the customers out, we have to set the front end for Friday (and all the returns), make sure all the reshops are put away and get out of there. Usually there are people that are trying to come in as we are letting customers out. Apparently they don't believe the signs that are posted all week saying that we close at 6:00 on Christmas Eve. They also must have very short memories because we close at 6:00 pm on Christmas Eve every year. It is the one night of the year that we close early.

I am not done. I get paid Wednesday and I still have one more gift that I have to pick up. Since my boyfriend works days this week, I will have to try and get it during my 15 minute break. Wish me luck, the store will be packed with last minute shoppers. It's weird too, because usually I am not a last minute shopper. This year it just worked out that way.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

This Year's Card

Last year I painted a picture and decided to use it for my Christmas card for the special people in my life. It was a big hit so I continued my new tradition this year.
Since you, my dear readers, are special people to me I am sharing this card with all of you. I hope you enjoy it.

A home full
of happiness,
laughter and memories,
friendships rekindled,
hearts filled
with joy . . .
May these be your treasures
at Christmas time.

May the Light shine upon you through the New Year.



Tammy

'Tis the Season

I used to love the Christmas season, picking out gifts for my loved ones, the lights, scents and music. I bought into the hype that people are happy and fun to be with.

This is my 5th year working retail and every year I become more disillusioned. People are mean and rude. I know that no one has much money to spend this year, please don't take your frustrations out on the cashier, we don't have any more than you do. When you yell at us because you spent more than you anticipated, or because an item didn't get put into the system at the price it has been marked down to (not our fault, by the way), because you are on a tight budget, or any other number of reasons, that can ruin our whole day. We are there to do a job, just like you do at your place of work.

How would feel if someone that you don't even know came into your office and started screaming and cussing (yes, in some instances there has been cussing) at you for something that wasn't your fault? How would the rest of your day go? Would you be able to keep on smiling and being pleasant all day? Now, how about if it happened over and over again?

We are aware that we are short handed, and we are trying to get you through the line and out the door as quickly as possible. We do not do the hiring, nor do we make the work schedule.

I have had cashiers call me over because a customer was yelling at them because their credit card, debit card, or check was declined. I know that this is embarrassing for you, however, it is not or fault. Debit cards and checks are declined if there isn't enough money in the account to cover them, our checks are automatically deducted just like a debit card. Checks are also declined if you have a returned check somewhere that uses the same check system that we do. With credit cards, the most common reason is that the card issuer denies the charge. We really wish that we could help you, but there isn't anything that we can do in any of these cases, so please, don't take it out on us.

I am asking you to please, let those of us that work in retail enjoy the season too. Please remember that we have to deal with the same frustrations as you. We also have families that we need to shop for, we have to wait in the same lines. We may look like someone to take it all out on because we are just a face at the register but we are human, we have feelings.

Don't get me wrong, there are some real nice and pleasant people out there. They are a joy to wait on, and when a cashier is lucky enough to get one it really helps them get through the day. So I thank those of you are nice to the cashiers, your friendly smile and kind words helped someone more than you know.

For everyone, please take into your mind and hearts, 'Tis the Season to be Jolly.