Hallmark: The Spring Break Holiday...

Well for me it was anyway. While most of the students at Manhattanville went home or some place sunny, I was spending my days at Hallmark in the Westchester. It was completely my choice to do so.

I enjoy my job. I don’t enjoy the customers. The word that comes to mind when I think of them is “Rude”. They yell at me for stupid things. If they can’t find a card they like, they seek me out to tell me “you have a terrible card selection”. Excuse me? If you look on any card it does not say “By Chelsea Callahan”, and if you don’t like it then please leave. Customers also get offended that we don’t wrap gifts or validate parking. If you have enough money to be shopping in this mall you should have no problem with the parking fee. Also, it is not my fault you waited to the last minute to wrap your gift.

Customers look for the weirdest things when shopping. They often ask for party materials like balloons, plates, and napkins. I suggest politely trying Target. The expression on their face is priceless. One would think that I threatened to kill their purse dog. They act like their reputation will be destroyed if they even look at Target let alone step in there.

I am not saying that all my customers are like this but a good majority. This blog could be advice to those who read it, don’t be rude to sales associates. We talk and make fun of you if you are. My friends often joke, “How hard could your job be?” It isn’t hard; it’s unpleasant especially with the children of the devil, i.e. customers.

Bad News is the Best News

When it comes down to it, bad news wins over good news. It’s what the people want, or least what I want. Please do not misunderstand me. I am all about a light fluffy story about a grandmother who was saved by a five year old boy, but give me a nanny who murdered the wife to run off with the husband and left the baby in the highchair any day.

Bad news is exciting and unexpected. It is out of the ordinary. It provides conversation. If I mentioned a boy who saved a family of squirrels to my friends in order to start up a conversation, I feel they would look at me like “What the hell are you talking about?” If I bring up a twelve year old cheerleader who got pregnant by her thirty-five year old coach, well we’ve got a good time.



It is a little sad that the negative overrides the positive, but I feel that our society has become that way. You meet someone new and if there is something you don’t like about that person it overrides what you could like about that person.

Negativity is extremely powerful. It is interesting that people try to push a positive attitude on others hoping that they will catch it (side note: what does that even mean catch? It reminds me of the song catch a falling star; which is impossible)


A negative attitude is more contagious and can spread a lot faster, so why should the news be any different?