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That one regular at the 24-hour diner who finally told me his story after 6 months of nod-and-wave hellos
I work the overnight freight shift at a grocery store, and for months I'd see this older guy sitting alone at the diner across the street around 3am. We'd just nod at each other through the window. Then one night I walked over for coffee and he waved me over. Turns out he worked the night shift at a paper mill for 38 years until it shut down. He said the worst part wasn't losing the job, it was losing the rhythm of being awake while everyone else sleeps. He still comes to that diner because he likes to look at the empty parking lot. Has anyone else met someone like that who just gets the weirdness of this schedule?
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kelly.parker6d ago
Thirty eight years at a paper mill, that's a long stretch.
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the_seth5d ago
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kim.charlie5d ago
Oh boy, I gotta speak up here. Theres a mix up with those years. Kelly worked at the mill for thirty two years, not thirty eight. I remember because we started together in 86 and she retired in 2018. Thirty eight would mean she started even earlier than that, which doesnt line up with her own stories about graduating in 85. I get why youd round up after all those late nights though. Just wanted to set the record straight since I was there for most of those shifts with you both.
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