I don’t talk about work a whole lot on my website, unless it is something dramatically significant – like a job switch or friends who I have made through work. I enjoy my job and am thankful for it, but the day-to-day activities wouldn’t hold much interest to the average reader – and of course, there’s always the risk of saying something stupid and getting fired! But seriously, the second week of September saw a couple of work-related events actually worth reporting.
The first one was relatively minor, but a bit nostalgic for me nonetheless. Everyone who works at the Tri-County office had to participate in an in-store work day, specifically designed for some of those who have forgotten what it is like in the Kroger ‘real-world’. I don’t think I’m one of those as my job constantly revolves around the operational procedures of the stores’ front-end. But still I was happy to do it and rather enjoyed the experience.
On Wednesday, September 10, I donned the traditional clerk uniform and returned to the Fairborn store, the location where I once went through management training (and regularly shop today). There I spent some time in the front office, worked on writing a schedule, and ran register for a couple of hours. It was actually fun to be able to interact with customers once again and it brought back some memories – especially considering the Customer Service Manager was Donna, whom I used to work for back in the early 1990’s.
The next day was the Associate Managers Outing, of which I am one. We really didn’t know what was in store for us that day – only that it was located in Miami Meadows Park in Milford, Ohio and that it promised to be a ‘rewarding’ experience. After it was all said and done, I agreed that it was indeed rewarding even if I did have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to get all the way to Milford by 7:30am.
First on the agenda was a ‘guest speaker.’ I had no idea who this was going to be, but I was little dreaming that I might actually end up with a celebrity encounter to report. But in fact, it was former Cincinnati Bengals and Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz. I have always felt a ‘connection’ to Munoz as I attended his very last Bengals game on December 22, 1992. Even then, I knew that he was not only one of the greats, but also one of the classiest. He gave a moving speech then…and now I was hearing him give another one.
In 1998, when my friend Bob and I visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame, none-other-than Anthony Munoz had just been enshrined a couple of weeks prior, so I made a point of telling Bob how he was one of my favorite players. When we returned there earlier this year, I made sure to pose right under Munoz for my photo with the H.O.F. busts (as seen here). Bob and I later went to eat at Montgomery Inn that week, and we were quick to point out the photos of Anthony Munoz that adorned the place. It seemed that he was everywhere.
And now he was here. He gave a moving speech about teamwork where he professed that he didn’t define himself as a football player, but in Christ. This made me admire him even more. We were all given a goody bag and inside of it was a disposable camera. I had brought along my digital camera, but had left it in the car. All during his closing Q&A session, I kept debating on how to handle the situation. Finally, as he was wrapping it up, I took off and bolted to my car to grab the digital camera, worried that the disposable camera might get screwed up somehow.
As I returned to the tent under which he gave his speech, he was being walked out by the Human Resources department and getting his photo with them as a group. I was the only one with the audacity to approach him and ask for an individual photo. The HR department ended up following my lead and got some of their own individual shots. I told him that I was a big fan and was at his last game. He told me I must have been a little kid at the time – which I guess in a way I was.
Anthony Munoz and me…I’m not really this pale!
Everyone else had been herded to a separate part of the tent where bicycles awaited to be assembled. This doesn’t sound too fun in and of itself, but it actually was. We were put into teams and were challenged with assembling a bike for the Boys and Girls Club of Cincinnati (bascially comprised of needy kids – sort of like a Big Brother / Big Sister group). In order to get the parts to the bike, we were faced with a series of challenges, brain teasers, and quizzes. We had to name our team (we were the Chop Shop…Our motto: Where there’s a wheel, there’s a way). After a couple hours of these shenanigans, we got our bike assembled.
I solved the ‘balance ten nails on one nail’ puzzle
Fidel shows off the bicycle quiz that earned us the front wheel
Rus and me are proud of our four-foot tall free-standing balloon display that earned us the bike seat
We then had a nice lunch catered by Chef’s Choice and then had the option of playing various other games. They had casino tables brought in with professional hosts and I played both a round of Texas Hold ‘Em and then some Blackjack. True to my losing streak as of late, I did miserably in both. Actually I was third place at my poker table out of about eight, but it wasn’t really anything to be proud of. It was all a nice time hanging out with friends and co-workers.
At the end of the day, there was another surprise – the kids who were going to be receiving the bikes were marched in and presented with their new toy. It was heartwarming to see their excited faces. Of course, they were told that we spent all day working on the bikes ‘just for them.’
So yes, my celebrity encounter with Anthony Munoz was the highlight for me, but the whole day did end up being rather rewarding.
Denise and I used to go to a couple of Bengals games every year when my company had season tickets. At one such outing, Munoz was in the club section just sitting with his family. As people started to notice who he was, they came rushing up to him to get his autograph (so did we). He was an absolute delight, smiling, shaking hands, taking pictures. Another time I saw him in the Cincinnati airport. Exact same thing. I can’t imagine how many autographs he must sign, but to do so with such class and exuberance is truly remarkable. Indeed, he is a shining light for Christ, and someone we, as Christians, can look to as a role model.
Aaron
September 19th, 2008
When were at the Hall of Fame the first time and Munoz was to be inducted, his bio had him coming from Fontana, Ca. just 15 minutes from me. Not sure if he played for the rivial high school though.
Celebrities pop up when you least expect it. It is good to have that camera handy.
Bob
September 20th, 2008