LOWELL — Most people have Christmas off from work, but not everyone.
Many convenience stores, doughnut shops and gas stations were open on Christmas this year and many of the workers said they didn’t mind working on the holiday, and some were making it merry and finding even more fun and satisfaction at work.
At CVS on the VFW Highway in Lowell, all the workers were celebrating with bright red shirts on, well, actually, they always wear bright red shirts as that’s the CVS color scheme, but it fit right in on Christmas.
Worker Melanie Medina said she saw that her manager had grabbed one of the red and white Santa hats that they sell and was wearing it as she worked and she bought one herself to take home and to wear around the store and celebrate Christmas.
“I saw the hat and I thought, that’s such a good idea,” Medina said.
“I like it, it keeps me busy,” Medina said of working on Christmas. “I had a Christmas sweater but I forgot to bring it.”
The idea, Medina said, was “showing some spirit. The kids like it. I’ll celebrate at home, I have a lot of presents I want to give out to family and friends.”
And coincidentally enough, some of her other family members were also working on Christmas at their jobs.
“When we all get home, that’s when the party begins. … I like it, people seem happy, they have the spirit.”
Her coworker at CVS, Fatima Sbeih, said, “I don’t mind,” working on Christmas. She said she is a Muslim, but also recognizes Christmas. She said she is originally from Iraq, where there isn’t much in the way of Christmas celebrations, but she also spent time in Lebanon, where it’s celebrated in a big way.
“We’ll do a meal and a gathering with family,” Sbeih said. “Jesus is our prophet, so we recognize that.”
She said later at home they were going to have cake and make pizza, and, yes, watch Christmas movies.
And she even got a Christmas present, Sbeih noted with a smile, as a customer have her a gift card to Dunkin’, spreading the holiday cheer.
Crystal Pagan, a worker at the Cumberland Farms convenience store at Drum Hill Road in Chelmsford was making the best of it, serving customers while wearing a festive set of reindeer antlers.
“I don’t know,” Pagan said with a sigh, about working on Christmas. “I like talking to the customers, seeing their friendly faces and smiles. And I like the time and a half … and tips. And we do get some homeless customers as well and I like letting them have a coffee.”
She said it’s a bit of a difficult Christmas for her as her dad is in rehab after hurting his hip, but she said, “My mom’s cooking a last-minute meal … when we get off from work we can exchange gifts, have a Christmas get-together and watch movies.”
Christmas movies, she said.
Plus, she was looking forward to getting home and giving one of her dogs “a big, huge bone” and the other a toy. The dogs have different preferences, and she’s figured out what they would like best for Christmas.
At Top Donut on Bridge Street in Lowell, worker Tyvin Thou said, “Honestly, it was a little stressful at first, but it’s really nice to help people out. They also want a break. It’s been very busy, and it’s nice to help out.”
Over at the Gourmet Doughnut shop inside of the Fabian gas station on Water Street in Leominster, the Christmas atmosphere was evident, with worker Kayleigh Veneziano all decked out in red and while, with pants with a Christmas wrapping theme and sporting a festive Santa hat, doling out Christmas cheer along with the coffee and doughnuts.
Of working on Christmas, Veneziano said, “I think it brings spirit. I’m able to serve other people while other places are closed.
“I like to dress up and show the little kids my outfit that come by for doughnuts and coffee. And even though I’m not home unwrapping presents, I think there’s more to Christmas than just gifts and I’d rather spread joy. God bless!”
At the AL Prime gas station at 1313 Water St. in Fitchburg, Manager Maher Hashem said, “It’s better to stay with the family, but we have to come in to work.”
But that is fine, he said, as “the gas station supports the community.”
“The gas station never closes. I don’t mind,” said AL prime worker Cynthia Pinn, adding that she planned to celebrate when she gets home after work.
Original article
Comments