First Internship, First Day

I am a confident person. If you know me even a little, that trait should be obvious. But something about beginning a new job really makes me nervous! I couldn't fall asleep last night, and this morning I tried on about 4 different outfits before I decided on one. I just really wanted to prove myself today - show them they made the right choice when they hired me. My aim: be professional. Never mind that I had no idea when to show up today. Somewhere that essential little detail was left out, don't ask me how.

So I packed my lunch like a schoolgirl and drove the 2.6 miles from my driveway to theirs. I quickly gathered that I arrived just on time. :) My bosses Charlene and Dave met me in the lobby and said, "Follow us; we'll show you your office."

I HAVE MY OWN OFFICE. I honestly never thought the summer intern would get her own office, but alas, the desk, lamp, bookshelf, filing cabinet, computer and 2 chairs are all mine. It's a little bare right now, so I'm putting together some things to make it more home-y. Pictures of Jess, the fam, the best friends, the roomies; pencil cup, kleenex...I'm gonna deck it out like my desk at school.

After the office intro, I got the tour and met everybody. Interestingly, I know a few employees because we go to (or went) to the same church. They were all very friendly in that intimidating sort of way. They weren't trying to be scary, but they didn't have to try, either. So I met everyone in the editorial, production, and marketing departments. I'm excited that I get to spend some time in each department, getting to know department heads and the ins-and-outs of each job.

As it was explained to me today, I'm going to follow a manuscript through all the stages of getting a book published. It's being edited right now, then it will go to proofreaders, then on to...actually I haven't learned that yet. Check back in a couple weeks! :)

Sweetest Job Perk: getting free(!) books that Bethany publishes. I am so excited - I may just have to catch up on all the Christian-historical-romance-fiction books I've missed out on since the 7th grade, because I'm pretty sure all the good ones were published by BHP.

I jumped right in to reading manuscripts and checking corrections made on proofread galleys. I also learned that I'm taking a proofreading test next Tuesday, and I'm only slightly paranoid. Luckily for me, my job is not hinged on whether or not I pass. Still - does anyone want to take it for me?!

My bosses also took me out to lunch - how cool are they?!

So, in conclusion, (and if you've read thus far, congratulations, you get a gold star) I am excited to have something to fill my days now. It'll be a really good look at the publishing world, yes, but also at office dynamics, something completely foreign to me. [For those that aren't aware, this is my first summer working with adults. I've been a nanny for 3 summers and a swimming lesson instructor for the 3 before that - definitely a far cry from business casual and water cooler discussion.] So I'm learning about Christian book publishing, yes, but also about me in the process. I hope to make some helpful discoveries. I'll keep you posted.

Acting Our Age

When I was younger [read: homeschooled], we volunteered at a local nursing home. I helped with Bingo on Tuesday mornings and then with beach ball exercise in the afternoon. It was state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line, fantastic health care. I remember how certain residents came to remember us and look forward to our visits. With other residents, though, we introduced ourselves every week for 3 years. I haven't spent much time in one/around one since then.

Today, I went back. And this time, it was different. Today, it was my grandma in that nursing home.

It felt so familiar. The decor was mauve, beige, and teal. It smelled like old people. The constant beeping signaled CNAs that someone needed help, or had gotten out of their chair, or walked out a door.

Grandma's eyes lit up when we walked in the room. She definitely knew she had company, but she didn't know who we were. Well, she nodded that she knew us, but didn't know our names. My grandma didn't know my name. That's a heavy thing to deal with.

I got to feed her a snack. It was just a brownie and lemonade, but there was something so existential in that moment. When I held the spoon to her mouth, I said, "Open up, Grandma." It shouldn't be that way. That's what you say to a baby. That's what she said to me when I was a baby. I am 20, she is 75 and it didn't feel like anyone was acting their age.

She mimics facial expressions. She can raise her eyebrows, smile back, wink. There were several moments when I saw "the old Grandma." She's thinking so hard - you can tell, she furrows her brow really hard - but all that comes out are mumbled words. She'll start a very coherent thought, like today, "Opa [her grandfather] was a big..." and trail off. I tried to get her back on the trail: "Opa was a big what, Grandma?" And she just searched my face. She lost that thought - it got away from her, down some rabbit trail in her brain, along with all the others.

I can't decide if it's worse to lose someone altogether or to lose all the things that make them someone.

Obligatory First Post Introduction

In an effort to continue writing - even when I'm not being forced by professors with syllabi - I'm using this space to think freely. There's a lot on my mind right now and as a Type-A verbal processor, getting it all out there might help me sort out my life. I expect that many of the posts that follow will be of the creative nonfiction (CNF) variety. The options are endless, though, I could turn into a fiction-writing fiend. Guess we'll have to see what happens...