Today wraps up the fifth and final session, at the Dallas Convention Center, of this year's annual Mary Kay Cosmetics convention-lovingly called "Seminar. For the last two and a half weeks, about 50,000 members of Mary Kay's world wide Independent Sales Force painted Dallas pink. Before going to my current employer, I worked at the Mary Kay World Headquarters for nine and a half years. Still have a good group of chums there.
The majority of my time at Mary Kay was spent in Career Car Services. Then the Company had cherry red Grand Ams, Grand Prix and the famous Pink Cadillac. Called myself the Grand Am Girl, because my duty was to make sure the Grand Ams were delivered in a timely fashion. Handled everything from collecting paperwork, running driving histories, and if for some reason a car couldn’t be had-I contacted the Sales Force and delivered bad news instead of a car.
When Seminar rolled around, our department had to get cars to the Convention Center, about 15 miles away, to showcase them inside and outside. Once Seminar concluded, we had to get them back to the Mary Kay building. This was done by everyone in the department, chipping in to drive the cars. You talk about a thrill to be behind the wheel of a brand spankin' new Pink Cadillac! That is until the time I ran out of gas. On Dallas' portion of Interstate I-35. At rush hour. Granted, I did hear the car chime at me as we pulled away from the Convention Center. I’m sure something on the dash lit up to alert me of low fuel. Surely there was enough gas to get back to our office.
Wrong.
The majority of my time at Mary Kay was spent in Career Car Services. Then the Company had cherry red Grand Ams, Grand Prix and the famous Pink Cadillac. Called myself the Grand Am Girl, because my duty was to make sure the Grand Ams were delivered in a timely fashion. Handled everything from collecting paperwork, running driving histories, and if for some reason a car couldn’t be had-I contacted the Sales Force and delivered bad news instead of a car.
When Seminar rolled around, our department had to get cars to the Convention Center, about 15 miles away, to showcase them inside and outside. Once Seminar concluded, we had to get them back to the Mary Kay building. This was done by everyone in the department, chipping in to drive the cars. You talk about a thrill to be behind the wheel of a brand spankin' new Pink Cadillac! That is until the time I ran out of gas. On Dallas' portion of Interstate I-35. At rush hour. Granted, I did hear the car chime at me as we pulled away from the Convention Center. I’m sure something on the dash lit up to alert me of low fuel. Surely there was enough gas to get back to our office.
Wrong.
About half way into the journey, I’d had been following a co-worker, who thank goodness, realized I was no longer in his rear view mirror. He took an exit and doubled back. He asked if I was OK. As semis rumbled too close to comfort, while we stood on I-35’s shoulder, I reassured him I was fine. I didn’t have a cell phone and he’d left his at work. What to do? We hopped in his Pink Cadillac to head to a bowling alley, just cross the way. I was so scared somebody would plow into my Pink Cadillac, while we went for help. As we stood by the pay phones, my co-worker announced, “I don't have any change for one of these things." I dug in my purse and found a dollar. John, one of our bosses, came to our rescue. The first thing he asked was if the car chimed to signal low fuel. When I said I thought there would be enough gas, for split second, I wondered if both men thought I would be better as an ornament for one of those semis rumbling by. While John poured gas into the Cadillac he laughed as he said the department’s new gas can would be named after me.
The Cadillac had for sure enough gas to get me back to the Mary Kay Building. In fact, another co-worker, had come with John to help out, said she’s ride with me. To help maybe settle my nerves. We trucked on our merry way. Chatted about catching a bit to eat after the car was parked and settled. Just 10 minutes more and we would arrive at our destination.
Wrong.
A highway patrolman had pulled another driver off on the shoulder. Folks slowed down to a crawl. Everyone except the 19 year old kid in the purple Lexus sports car, behind me. If not for the seat belt, I may have hit the steering wheel. So, thank goodness that highway patrolman was still there. No major damage done, except for a scratch or two and my nerves. His mother later asked me to go easy on him, because this was her son’s first car. Really? My first ever car, which was in 1974 was a ’63 blue Chevy Impala, named Daisy June.
The co-worker and I didn’t make it for a bite to eat that night. Nope. After that day, I don’t remember bustling for another chance to drive a Pink Cadillac. Nope. Too much adventure. I’m sure I did head home, ate ice cream and pet a cat.
As much as something changes, it still stays the same.
The Cadillac had for sure enough gas to get me back to the Mary Kay Building. In fact, another co-worker, had come with John to help out, said she’s ride with me. To help maybe settle my nerves. We trucked on our merry way. Chatted about catching a bit to eat after the car was parked and settled. Just 10 minutes more and we would arrive at our destination.
Wrong.
A highway patrolman had pulled another driver off on the shoulder. Folks slowed down to a crawl. Everyone except the 19 year old kid in the purple Lexus sports car, behind me. If not for the seat belt, I may have hit the steering wheel. So, thank goodness that highway patrolman was still there. No major damage done, except for a scratch or two and my nerves. His mother later asked me to go easy on him, because this was her son’s first car. Really? My first ever car, which was in 1974 was a ’63 blue Chevy Impala, named Daisy June.
The co-worker and I didn’t make it for a bite to eat that night. Nope. After that day, I don’t remember bustling for another chance to drive a Pink Cadillac. Nope. Too much adventure. I’m sure I did head home, ate ice cream and pet a cat.
As much as something changes, it still stays the same.
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