So what does a Senior Director of Microsoft do the week before Christmas Sunday [email protected] 3am – sleep? Hardly, I’m waiting in line at Best Buy, Union City New Jersey standing in position 71 out of 102, in freezing temperatures. The whole thing stated when prompted by my wife the day before seeing 52 Xbox 360 units on BB web-site shipped on 12/18 -- hoping to acquire one of the ‘season must haves’ for our 15 yr old son.
We approach the store seeing people litterly camped out in tents – where my wife jumps out of the car hoping to secure a strategic position in line before anyone else gets in -- feeling as if every person is a threat to the goal. Before I park the car, and join her in line, she share’s with her line companions that I work for Microsoft – Oh Crap! The good news is that at least they see that Xbox 360 has no favorite children -- however I had to get an ear full how Bill Gates is a bad man for not meeting the seasons demand.
We now have a small therapeutic group discussing the woes and impacts of going to catholic school, and other antidotal stories about cabbage patch doll scenarios from the 80’s. At that point 5am, I decide to go get coffee at Dunking Donuts and felt; heck – I’m in the holiday sprit and decide to go for the Box of Joe for our group and dozens of Munchkins. Needless to say, I was the line hero and befriend by all who stood by us – friend or foe. I made my contribution to humanity and coffee ultimately provided by bad Bill’s payroll. It was actually a feel good moment that defines a new story that’ll be told in the future and remembered fondly.
Suddenly , a word from the know – a yellow jacketed store manager addresses the crowd at 6am, stating they only have 46 unit available, firmly indicating; this man here wearing the Jets football Jacket is the last person guaranteed – unless folks CC don’t go through, or others short of cash. Well, we were 25+ past Jets guy, so we decided to call it a night and said goodbye to our new line friends.
Still searching….
Cheers, Don.
Comments