Not hesitating to find employment once again, I decided to search the Internet for a job.  I wasn't picky and called leads, sent emails and filled in online forms.  One listing I responded to by email responded back by scheduling an interview for a temporary position in an office in downtown San Francisco.

The job was offered through, Ajilon, an employment agency that supplied candidates to local business clients.  Their client, Zenith American, was looking for someone to take over the mail room while their regular employee was on an extended four week vacation.

The jobsite was located in a "skyscraper", 221 Main Street.  It was a short hike to and from the the Embarcadero BART station, and a short half hour trip from the Millbrae station.  After a few weeks of taking BART, I decided to drive to the city with the intention of dropping by to visit my mother daily after work.  I'd park in her driveway and take the M Muni line finishing my commute.  

The staff was an older crowd, at least the ones who took up residency in the office.  Staff members (pictured below) I interfaced with frequently were two claim adjusters, Lourdes the office manager (my direct supervisor and goto person regarding company policy) and the IT manager.  Also pictured below is Mike, the guy I had the pleasure of subbing for during his vacation. 

Left to Right:  Lourdes,_____, _____, Mike , Esther

Work included picking up mail from the basement mailbox, receiving and sorting mail in the mornings and afternoon when it arrived, ensuring all mail was sent to the right place both in-house and to their respective destinations via hand delivered, postal mail and UPS.  All shipping was handled during the last hour and a half of the day. 

The in-house mail was usually the doctor's reports submitted for the insurance adjusters to determine eligibility for payment.  The adjusters record would be filed away in binders.  When not performing mailroom duties, I had time to organize the binders and sort documents according to case number, as often the documents would be filed away without checking. 

Some notable events included...

• Using my IT skills to determine a problem with the office laser printer.  A simple fuser replacement would be needed.  As I was not the office IT person and that she was not versed in printer repair, a contracted IT person was used.  I felt like I could have been an asset to the office if I had remained longer.

• Taking and passing an online class about HIPPA requirements and security.

• Exploring the neighborhood during the generous one hour lunch break, I had the opportunity to explore the "new" gussied up Ferry Building and repurposed Main Post Office, a hangout for the breakfast and lunch crowd.  I usually brought lunch from home, but every Friday was a treat at one of the lunch places in the area.

• There was a break room in the office which was equipped with common kitchen appliances such as a full refrigerator/freezer, coffee/tea/hot chocolate dispenser, toaster oven and microwave. Would never take my breaks there, but it did provide my beverage needs at lunch and a place to heat up my lunch.

My manager took me out to lunch at Tokyo Express, a nearby popular Japanese restaurant, before the last day of my employment at Zenith.  The rest of the staff got together and bought donuts, chips, dips and other goodies that lasted throughout the day.  I was even told to bring what was left home.  It was the best send off since leaving MINSY 30 years earlier.