I'd have to say that work is at least 60% of the stress that I carry. I'm a bank manager at Bank of Duhmerica (not the real name...DUH, and no it's not Bank of America), and while I love managing people, I cannot stand the stupidity and irrationality of some of my customers (and sometimes employees). My job requires a colossal amount of patience that I can't have each and everyday. The typical consumer should have a budget: Income minus expenses = Whatever you have left to spend on other crap. This should not be a negative number right from the get-go! And if it is, it's NOT the bank's fault. And it's definitely not MY fault. Sure I get it, the banks charge ridiculous fees...I know. I've been there. But you can't expect to spend your money frivolously to the point where you have no idea where your balance is, you just *think* you have $5...just enough for that pack of smokes. Unfortunately, now that pack cost $5.50 + an extra overdraft charge. Oh, and I also get that this happens sometimes. We all screw up, we've all done it. But don't - I repeat DON'T - come into the bank yelling at the manager expecting her to reverse every single one of your 8 charges. Yelling at me isn't going to do you any good, I'll probably just kick you out. Tell me your entire story calmly, but don't have high expectations. If it's not our fault, we're not going to reverse all of them. Would you expect to pay for a stolen item that you didn't steal?
Oh, and I love little old ladies, but I don't love it when they take up 20 hours of your day telling you about each and every one of their little grandkids and how they were born. Then they forget why they even came into the branch, and you have to sit through another 20 hours of listening to the story about their friend Bertha who lost her memory at 67 and how she's so lucky compared to her. Then of course, and this never fails, there's the story about how back in the day, she remembers how the bankers used to hand-write all the new accounts in a book and keep track of each person's balance everyday. Yada yada yada. I honestly just do not have the time to enjoy these stories as much as I normally would....I think. I know that they're lonely, and I try really hard to keep this plastered smile on my face as if I'm truly engaged by what they're saying. But really, I just don't have the time.
One more thing - don't come into the branch one minute before closing to open a super complicated trust account. Unless of course, you want me to hate you forever.
On a good note, J and Walter (the pup) went pheasant hunting today. No birds, but I'm glad they had some happy time together. Aren't they cute?
Haha! I love your recount of the old lady stories. That's exactly how they progress, too. If you see them enough times, all stories morph into the same story in the end, lol.
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