You never forget your first boss, but my 7th really stands out. He was an Iranian immigrant badly miscast in food services.
For most who worked at the Pine Isle resort on Lake Lanier in the summer of ’93, Reza was a terror. I was among the frightened during my first few weeks, but the intimidation waned the more Reza cursed. He knew the slang, and someone must’ve told him that profanity was an effective motivator — when properly used. Reza didn’t have a clue.
Ex: “The Chris, you fuck stupid!” Perhaps, but how would he know?
Fuck the Blauser!
Reza was at his most entertaining the day ATF agents stormed the Waco compound of Branch Davidian David Koresh. “Kill them all! Kill all those fucking mother sons of bastards!” I think it was the first time Reza felt like an American.
Not sure what became of him, though I suspect he’s either unemployed or on the verge of being fired. His job at Pine Isle was always in jeopardy, thanks to his politically incorrect views about women in the workplace. Whenever he’d feel the heat after some inappropriate remark to Brandy or Amber, Reza would bring his large family — a wife and at least four kids — to work.
“Ah, the Chris, meet my lovely wife and my beautiful children.”
I can’t help but root for him.
