by Jan Chaffin
- Disclaimer: The views expressed are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employers.
Chapter Nine – Week Three
I was catching on. In fact, I had day-use down. Opening, closing, solo… whatever. My last week of day-use assignments included a spending spree in the gift shop and a brave (foolish?) jump in the San Lorenzo River. On a warm after-work run, I returned to my now-private swim hole and couldn’t resist a dunk. In, out. Fun!
When I told the Senior Aide, he shook his head. No way would he get in that nasty river.
Temptations were removed when my June shifts switched to the campsite kiosk on Graham Hill Road. Both the river and the gift shop were across a canyon and miles away. Instead, I ran to the Observation Deck frequently.
“34 campers are due in” chuckled my training partner. My first solo opening shift at the campground would be epic. All week I panicked, dreading the challenge. I made sure to get to bed early but sleep eluded me. Finally, I decided to just get an early start and arrived at 7:10am for my 8am start. Clutching my opening shift instructions, I moved through each task from counting the cash to printing the incoming camper slips to updating the license forms to hanging the flags and setting out firewood. I was ready to open by 8:45.
Then the onslaught arrived like an avalanche. Campers approached from all sides wanting to add cars, swap sites, book walkups, get wood, buy day passes, get directions to the Garden of Eden and try to check in early. The phone rang non-stop but I seldom had a chance to answer it.
By 12, there was no sign of a let-up. In fact, more and more cars were lining up. I had to keep the road open and was constantly interrupting transactions to ask cars to pull over or redirect them to the correct location; Google somehow reversed day use and camping directions, creating lots of unnecessary traffic at both entrances.
A Senior Service Aide showed up to assist and started controlling the flow and giving me instructions. I bristled at the added element of anxiety she brought despite needing help. Around 2:30, I hit a wall. Without warning, I suddenly couldn’t complete a thought or remember how to fill in a camp slip.
That’s when the Ranger Phone rang. Rule number one: answer the Ranger Phone when it rings. “Excuse me, I have to get this” I tell an impatient would-be camper waiting in line to check in. I can barely hear the voice on the other end over the Aide’s radio squawking non-stop static at full volume. I think he was asking if there were any issues with campers checking out. I told him none that I knew of. I think he then repeated the question “Are you sure?” And I said I thought so. Then, for whatever reason, I felt so besieged that I told him “I have to go. Good bye.”
And I hung up the phone. On the Ranger. “Who was that?” asked the Senior Aide. I told her. Suddenly, her voice sounded like the taste of gun metal. She said “Oh, that’s no way to talk to a ranger. I needed to talk to him; there’s an issue with checkout.” She hadn’t told me there were any issues. I didn’t know she needed to talk to him. And yes, it was a stupid way to treat a Ranger. She took me outside during a rare lull and explained I would be talked to by the Ranger.
Indeed, the Ranger took me aside and explained he would have to tell my boss. He was concerned if I handled his call like that how would I handle a customer’s call when stressed. (I knew I wouldn’t even answer a customer’s call unless I was able to talk…. But still…)
By that time, the closing shift crew had come on and knew something wasn’t right. I managed to pull myself together and perform the cash-closing procedures for my shift. I had gone from thinking I was coping well to wondering if I was going to be fired. And worse, if I actually should be fired… Did I have a major personality disorder? Was it low blood sugar from lack of food? Lack of respect for authority? Much soul-searching ensued. I wrote my boss as soon as I got home and explained I did a dumb thing and apologized, promising it would never happen again. Then I waited for the consequences, dreading my next solo shift more than ever, wondering if I wanted to spend my summer this stressed.
Chapter Ten – Week Four
A week passes. No word from my boss. Saturday rolls around again. I decide to slow down and joke with the waiting campers that it’s just me and I’m doing the best I can, hoping to gain their sympathy. Thankfully, the morning is busy but not overwhelmingly so. The Senior Aide assists me again for a few hours and we actually joke around like buddies. I find it easier to work with her this time. I start making mistakes around hour six, but I catch some of them and slow down even more. I also make sure I have plenty to eat and drink. The Senior Aide is pleased with my progress. Whew! Who knows what next week will bring, but a month into my State Park Summer, I think I just might make it.