I was asked to cover a market where the salesman assigned could not cover his territory for a short period of time due to personal circumstances. While setting appointments and planning the itinerary, I was offered a piece of cake to eat by an employee of the organization. I expressed thanks for the offering and proceeded to take a bite of this cake. As I proceeded to bite into the cake their seemed to be a reconsideration of thought on the offering of this treat, as I was told that the cake contained hashish.
Increasingly, I was made aware of problems with the “draw against commission” salary system of the company which was implemented for the sales representatives. This method of payment advanced a set salary that was paid to sales representatives regularly but was deducted from their end of the season commission once the merchandise was shipped. In other words, sales people worked only on a commission basis but most of the future commissions expected to be paid to the sales representatives were advanced to them, through as I recall bi-monthly salary checks. This system caused much anxiety to the sales people not only regarding the placement of orders but also regarding the shipping of orders. Sometimes, due to internal manufacturing problems the apparel was not shipped on time resulting in retail buyers threatening to cancel orders because of untimely seasonal deliveries. Sometimes orders were cancelled, leaving the sales representative indebted to the company for the commissions already paid to the sales representative. One thought this salary system to be unjust because the sales representatives were held responsible for manufacturing and shipping problems that were beyond their control. One can further realize how a person or a particular person, who is perhaps targeted by evil, could be rendered financially bankrupt due to this system.
As fiance’ and I had arranged to marry in the summer, I stated to my parents that fiance’ and I would be vacationing for a long weekend in May at a beach area in a nearby state. Mother was aggravated at this statement and informed me that I was to wait for these excursions until after our marriage was official. Not wishing to cause consternation with mother and father just prior to our wedding, I cancelled these plans.
Fiance’ and I were marrying on Saturday July 25. Arrangements were made with a travel agent for a honeymoon in Jamaica. I was annoyed that the costs for airline and hotel were considerably higher for a Sunday departure as compared with a Saturday departure. I invited all of the workers in the office where I worked to the wedding and the reception. Most of them sent back the response card stating that they would be attending. At the wedding rehearsal in a Catholic Church, I was informed that the traditional “Ava Maria” would be played on the church organ after the marriage ceremony. I was a bit disappointed and expressed this to church members who officiated over weddings as I was hoping that “Here Comes the Bride” would be played. I was pleased that during the ceremony “Ava Maria” was played on the walk to the altar and “Here Comes the Bride” was played on the walk from the altar at the conclusion of the ceremony. After the Catholic Church ceremony the traditional rice, apparently symbolizing fertility was over abundantly thrown at spouse and I. By the end of the 1980’s, bird seed was thrown at just married couples and by the 1990’s, bubbles were blown as the couple left the church. It is interesting to note that during the medieval times, flower petals were tossed at the