Miss You

Posted on August 09, 2005 by Matt Ufford

So, this blog is supposed to update readers about the goings-on at 826NYC and the Superhero Supply Company. In this regard I am useless, though I’m willing to bet that (a) Ted is wearing an untucked dress shirt and (b) the staff ate at Bagel World today.

I volunteered at 826NYC for seven months: store shifts, drop-in tutoring, field trips (I love the Storytelling and Bookmaking field trips)—as much as I could possibly do without looking like, in the eyes of the permanent staff, I had nothing else going on.

Truth is, I had nothing else going on. I was looking for work, but work didn’t especially want to be found. But, after seven months of my bank account hemorrhaging money – seven very fulfilling months of working with children, I’ll have you know – I was offered a day job and a night job (in the same week, no less). I accepted them both.

I suppose there’s room to complain. I work days, nights, most weekends. But in the grand spectrum of occupations a person can have, the two that I spend 60-plus hours a week at fall into the realm of “enjoyable.” Furthermore, lest there be some confusion, let me come right out and say it: money is great. I’ve had money before, but it’s even better when you go half a year without it. I’m thinking about buying new shoes, maybe even some dinner tonight.

I’m sad, though. School starts soon, and I probably won’t notice it. I’m going to miss the crew of drop-in regulars—well, most of ’em. Future partnerships with Khaled to write stories about monkeys seem unlikely. And I had no idea how much I liked that glassed-in, elevated office until I had to sit at a regular desk, exposed to co-workers at the same height above sea level.

I work in two different Manhattan office buildings, and neither one has a cape tester.

This adulthood will not stand. When fall comes, I’m going to take the occasional morning off to help with field trips. Working for free never sounded so good.

Posted by Matt Ufford