Tension

テンション Tenshon

Tension level = MAX

It’s just a minute or two before midnight and my tension levels have skyrocketed just now. I realized that it was just before midnight on the eve of the Hotel being on strike for one year. The reason of all the tension would have to be all the thoughts and ideas that run through my head of what may happen, what the strikers may do or what some overzealous citizens may cook-up. With every flash of light in the window of a passing car to each moving shadow of a tree or each creak inside this old hotel my heart skips a beat and my eyes dart up to see what isn’t really there. Ah…where’s my ghost when I need him. I can handle many things here at work, hell I do handle many weird things here at work but sometimes my mind gets the better of me as it races.

Okay…12:01AM…not bad, the minutes are still passing, that is always a good sign. I think it would have been easier tonight to come in at midnight and have Crystal here with me for a few minutes longer, I may have procrastinated a bit, keeping her here longer but I think she would have seen or guessed my tension and played the good friend in comforting me somewhat. Alternatively, maybe she would have been more inclined to be telling me not to worry so damn much and pull myself together. Either one would have been welcomed, trust me. However that wasn’t able to happen as the girl for tomorrow’s morning shift called in to cancel so Crystal being the ever vigilant front desk manager extraordinary (cough, cough) so graciously accepted the morning shift so I came in (perhaps a little begrudgingly but I came in nonetheless) a couple hours early to replace her. At least this way I’m sure to be replaced in the morning (I’ll be calling if you sleep in!!) and Crystal gets at least SOME sleep tonight. So it’s all good. We want so badly for this hotel to succeed now that I think we’d pretty much kill ourselves over it anyway, so this is nothing. (Now Crystal’s about ready to kill me for that comment, hoping that no one else from work reads this :P) It’s all good, right? :)

Okay tension level is dropping….slowly….minutes still thankfully passing. It’s now half past midnight, and all is still quiet. However, unfortunately the twitch is back... (Yes, my eye twitches from time-to-time.) They probably all had their fill for the night what with their party at the union hall (yes…the strikers had a party) to celebrate (?) their one year anniversary. (How is that right, please, anyone?) And, their driving by the Hotel (twice was it Crystal?) beeping their horns and hollering like hillbilly maniacs. (Heh, no offense mom, really :) ) If that is the worse, they do tonight, well good on them, and for me.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings what with their much-advertised press conference in front of the Hotel in the morning. (Too bad I’ll be sleeping… hopefully…by the time that rolls around) Ah, speaking of the press, the Northern Light (our weekly paper here) had a WONDERFUL article in it, actually two articles in it, about the strike. One article from the strikers and their union (bleh) reps perspectives (I’m sorry but I/we will NOT forget what they’ve done/said as they state it’ll be all easily forgotten when they walk back in the front doors), and the other from our and the owner here’s perspectives. I hope that all of the city will read this and finally get SOME sort of clue as to what’s really going on here, and stop being so damn naïve. I guess not everyone is born with a spec (at least) of common sense, ah such is life. So here I am, 23 years old living through an experience that not many people get to share (be thankful) and growing closer and closer with the people I work side-by-side with as no one gets the chance to really in life. I wouldn’t trade that for anything as it has forced me to grow profoundly, and appreciate a bit more my attributes, and qualities. (Ah common sense, where would I be without you?) I will carry this experience with me for my entire life, along with it, the bond I’ve gained with those wonderful (yes, you too Crystal…) people inside those large glass paned doors of the Hotel. So I guess, tension aside (as unpredictability of the night-shift scares me from time-to-time) I can honestly say that I’ve done right by my morals and values in crossing that picket line for the first time on June 1^st, 2005. One of these days, when the ridiculousness of this strike is over with and they’ve all gone home with their tail’s between their legs, my God will this Hotel be jumping! I kinda can’t wait…

Well, I guess that’s enough for now, I may however write more later (if I feel like it :) ) because this really is only going to be posted in the morning when I get home anyway. Moreover, considering it’s still fairly early, I have a long night ahead of me, which means I will get bored.

Ah, and so my rambling continues...