Work, and Lots of It

Doubling Up at the Restaurant and Country Club

Everyone has had days where there isn't a minute of free time. It's been five full weeks here in Hamden for me, and up until my return from Martha's Vineyard this past Tuesday, I've felt that I've balanced my work schedule and my free time well. My goal has always been to put in hours and make money, and I've managed to do that while still having fun. 

Carts lined up and ready to go for the Opening Day tournament

Then, before I realized what was happening, my work schedule jumped up a few notches--perhaps one too many. It was the perfect storm of extra shifts at Park Central plus opening day tournaments at New Haven Country Club, and the hours began to pile up like debris in a flood. Now, on my first night off since the Vineyard, I have time to take a breath. Five hectic days have passed, and I'm still here--exhausted, but a fair bit richer. 

Our PCT entrance sign

When you add up my shifts at the restaurant, work at the golf course, and loops as a caddy from Wednesday through Sunday, the hours total approximately 53. Tack on five from Tuesday night and five more from today at the course, and that's a lot of work in six days. I'm certainly not complaining;  I write this only to give a realistic picture of the third phase of my gap year. Maybe it's not as glamorous as jam-packed days of traveling around Europe, but I know that this type of experience is different than anything I've done before. 

There was plenty of excitement wrapped up in the course of my work shifts, and the best thing is the "we're all in this together" attitude I share with my co-workers at both the restaurant and the golf course. When I'm tired of bussing tables, I know I can go to Derrek or Conor for a laugh. And when I've picked the range for the fourth time in six hours, I know I can talk golf with Alex or Jaimie to put my mind at ease. It's nice that so many of my co-workers are young like me. We all have our gripes, but at the end of the day, we're all willing to work hard, refer to people as "ma'am" and "sir," and try to have a little bit of fun in the process. 

The flag flies at full-mast again at New Haven Country Club

I did manage to enjoy a quick eighteen holes and a meal at Park Central this evening. Even though I haven't had single opportunity to play for quite some time, I managed to hit the ball straight today. I know that most weeks won't be quite this crazy. I'll have time for more rounds of golf and a trip here and there. And I know that plenty of friends and family are lined up to visit. I like always having something to look forward to. Whether that's a day off or a summer up at Camp Dudley, I'll never have any complaints when I'm in the twelfth hour of a long day of work.