I've wanted to do a story about this for a while. I see so many weird people at work, but I'm always there so I never find the time to write a Random Thought on it.
I'll say it right off, I absolutely love my job. Lifeguarding is so much fun, especially when you get the privilege to work with such nice, fun, and intelligent people. I have so much fun at work every day, and I can't say that I'm sick of my job yet, even though I've been working there for about 10 months now. There are always new things going on, and nothing is ever the same.
One thing that is very interesting about my job is the wide variety of people that come in. There are some that are everyday, middle class, normal families just like you and me. And then there are others, the not so normal people. Some of the people that come in are downright creepy. For example, there is one guy that comes in every so often with his young son. They would seem like a very normal little duo, if the dad didn't wear a freaking tiny little speedo that displayed his junk for all the world to see. If he had a toned body and he obviously worked out a lot, then it would be a completely different story. But this guy is your typical, middle aged man with a big beer belly and pasty white skin. So attractive, I know. It's especially disgusting when he climbs all over the floatables in the water and his junk is all sticking straight out and you can't help but notice it. As gross as it is, it is absolutely hilarious when the guy gets on one of the floatables right in front of where my boyfriend is guarding and lays on his back. The look on my boyfriend's face is priceless! But it still does not make it ok for a grown man to show up to a family friendly waterpark in a tiny speedo, WITH HIS SON. I can't imagine how embarrassed that little boy will be when he gets older and realizes what a freak his dad is.
One of the only times I ever questioned whether I liked my job or not happened a few months ago. It was the beginning of summer, and I was guarding on a weekday. I was standing by the slide, and a family was playing in the water in front of me. With them was a woman who was very pregnant, and looked like she was due to give birth any day. I didn't pay any extra attention to her until later, when her friend came up to me to ask a question about the slide. I thought it would be a question about whether or not her child, who was relatively small, could go down the slide. Instead, she asked me if pregnant people could go down the slide. I looked over and saw her pregnant friend standing by the slide, waiting for my ok. I was absolutely shocked that they would even ask me that. I asked her how pregnant she was, and she said she was about 8 months. I told her I wouldn't recommend it at all, since we don't have any rules forbidding it. They ignored me, and I had to sit back and watch the dumbest woman on the planet shoot out of the slide with her fat stomach sticking in the air. I was seriously concerned that that could cause her to go into labor. That incident alone put me in a horrible mood. Why the hell would anyone even a little pregnant go down a water slide-a fast one at that- if there is a sign that says it isn't a good idea, and if the lifeguard says not to as well? And where does common sense come into this? Why would you risk endangering your baby's life for a fifteen second thrill? I absolutely hated people that day, and although other things happened that day that pissed me off, that incident definitely takes the cake.
Those are the two weirdest and most infuriating things that have happened to me while I've worked at the pool ( Speedo Man isn't as infuriating as the Dumb Bitch, but he's still nasty). There are other things- many, many things- that happen on a daily basis that make not only me mad, but every other lifeguard there. There is a strict rule against anyone under 18 going into the hot tub area. There is a huge sign right by the gate stating that, and yet every single day, parents think they can bring their kids into the hot tub. Excuse me, but does it say you can bring your child in there under your supervision? No! It says no children, period! Why do you think your child is so special? And what kid wants to go in the hot tub when they can go down a freaking waterslide? If there was a waterslide nearby when I was little, I didn't give a crap about a stupid hot tub! When someone makes a rescue, we need to fill out paperwork for legal purposes, in case they were to file a lawsuit and try to get money off us, yada yada yada. We don't ask too many questions, but we ask for a name, address, and phone number. I'll admit, it's uncomfortable to give that information out. Honestly I don't know if I would if I were rescued and didn't know the procedure. But when someone saves your life or your child's life, don't you think you would be just a little grateful? There are so many people that get rescued by one of the guards, and when it comes time to fill out paperwork that takes literally thirty seconds to fill out, they get really pissy, bitchy, and stand offish. It is so hard to act professional around those people. I don't understand people sometimes. We just saved your life, and in return your going to be a jerk about it? I'm sorry, next time you start to drown I'll just watch you flail around a little longer before I consider jumping in to save you. What's more important morons, me saving your life, or you giving me a little bit of information in return for saving your life?
On top of it all are the questions people ask. Some of them are reasonable, like whether or not we give out towels to the guests (We don't, cuz we're cheap!). Others just make me want to bang my head against a wall and give up on humanity. People ask out of the blue questions that should be common sense. I would be able to think of some examples but it is almost two in the morning, and I've worked 24 hours in the last 3 days. I should probably stop writing about work so I can mentally leave it.
All in all, I love my job. The people that work there are great, and some of the guests that come in are great as well. As I just finished saying, there are a lot of freaks that come through. But there are also people that come through that are extremely polite, and seem so grateful that they can come have a good time at a family friendly place. I really love working there, and I hope I can for a long time to come.
Thanks for reading! Until next time :)
