For the first 11 years, I was the receptionist and switchboard operator and took messages by hand. (Remember, this was before voicemail and email! :) When taking a message, I always signed it with my initials and a little round smiley face. Well, one thing led to another and my coworkers started leaving smiley face items on my desk. Over the years, I've changed positions/offices a few times and brought most of the smiley items home to a "smiley room" of their own. Currently, I'm the production coordinator and have what I consider a "few" smiley face things in my office. There is a smiley face neon clock, two framed posters on the wall and a few other smilies around the room.
Last week our company was hosting a tour of the Target representatives responsible for deciding whether or not our company would receive the corporate account to provide the steel joist and deck for their new Target stores across the country. As this group was walking by my office to tour our plant, I said hello and a couple of them stopped and commented that my office looked like Wal-mart!!! :) Oh geez! I think I said something like "Oh no, just trying to keep a positive attitude around here!"
Well, on Thursday the mail clerk called to say I had a package at the front desk from Target. I knew I hadn't ordered anything and wouldn't have had it sent to work, even if I had. Honestly, I had no clue what it was until I opened it. This is the really COOL part of my story...inside the box was the most adorable stuffed puppy dog - "Bullseye" - Target's mascot! Along with it was a handwritten letter from John, the Regional Construction Manager, that read: "Pam, I thought this limited edition "Construction Bullseye" would be a nice way to offset the clearly innocent smiley faces in your office! He will keep you safe from the Wal-mart-esque influence of all those yellow faces. Enjoy!"
