Business at Kneaders is really bad (we tend to slow down in the summertime) and the cost of labor is high, or so I've heard, so everybody's hours have been dramatically cut. My last few paychecks have been puny, far below $50 when normally I earn $500 or so at a time. So I've had to borrow money from Mom and my siblings just to pay my insurance bills (too bad mandatory bills don't go away at times like these) and I must refrain from personal shopping. In a way, that's a blessing in disguise because I'm forced to be more frugal (though I never splurged like crazy) and I'm not tempted to buy junk food.
But I've struggled to figure out what to do with myself, how to make the most of all this free time. Sure, there's my art and writing, but I've also run into a bad creative slump. Even though it's been three years already, my confidence has taken a hard hit from that FanX flop and I wonder, as every aspiring artist does every now and again, whether I'm just wasting my time.
I wish I had more friends my own age around here, a little more wherewithal to get out and about.
So I talked to my bishop last week about the possibility of a calling. Bishop Matthews felt I might do better in the temple, so he put in a recommendation for me.
Today, it's been finalized: I'll be working in the laundry at the Layton Utah Temple every Friday from 1:00 to 5:15 PM. Since it's volunteer work, I won't be paid for this, but this'll give me something to do, a little more of a solid routine. Besides, they say the best way to help yourself is to help someone else, and what better place to serve than the Lord's House? I'm very fortunate there's a temple in my very own neighborhood. And the temple as a whole has been one of the few places I could go to really feel better when going through a rough patch. It sure helped after I lost Dad and my grandparents. In such a sacred place, death doesn't seem so permanent and my lost family members don't feel so far away; I can almost see them out of the corner of my eye.
I'll admit, I was a little nervous going in today for that little interview, which I suppose is normal and it means I have the right attitude. But they were super-nice and made me feel right at home. All I really had to do was fill out a paper form and they had to take my picture and then I was set apart in a private room. That was it. Now I'm feeling rather excited and grateful for this opportunity.
It also brings back memories of working in the Ogden Temple a few years ago, before I worked at WinCo Foods. Deseret Industries paid me to work in the cafeteria, and my experience there was quite pleasant for the most part. I liked the people enough to miss them when I left for good.
We'll see what happens with the laundry area in Layton. But I have great respect for janitorial work because somebody's got to keep the place (and the garments) nice and clean and fresh.
President Russell M. Nelson has strongly encouraged us to go to the temple as often as possible. In my case, I'll get to go there on a weekly basis. Mom is very proud of me and I'm sure Dad is, too.
Well, here goes!
