Jennifer Young was a cute redhead who I worked with at the Beavercreek Kroger store in the early 1990’s. So many of us in those days would become good friends and attend parties together at each others houses. I was a bagger in those days and she was a floral clerk. Often, Jennifer and I would have occasion to chat at various parties and functions. She was a very nice person with a great sense of humor. I, of course, was alternately funny, whimsical, and at times, crude - so she was justified on more than one occasion to get ticked at me!
I remember spending time hanging out with Jennifer at our Kroger Christmas parties and she was at more than one big blowout that the Kroger gang had over at my house in 1991-92. There were lots of cookouts and drinking fiestas at our friend Jon Petering’s house, as well. Jennifer even took my friend Larry Abbott to her prom in 1991. In 1993, while I was taking martial arts, Jennifer came along to one of the classes - so not only were we good friends, but I got to be thrown around by her on one occasion.
She eventually moved on from her post in the Floral Shoppe at Kroger, and returned as a co-manager - but in a different stores, primarily Xenia. We still ran into one another occasionally, though, at events like the Kroger Bag-Off, for example. She later retired from the company to seek employment elsewhere…and get married.
The last time I had seen Jennifer was when she and her husband attended the 2000 wedding of Andy and Melissa Poplin, fellow Kroger friends, both of whom I had worked with at different stores. We had a lot of fun that night at the reception - so much in fact, that we promised to stay in touch and hang out more often. Unfortunately, we never did…
But I did finally catch up with Jennifer and arranged a lunch date on Saturday, February 3, 2006. It had been more than five years since we had seen or spoken to one another. We met at Bravo by the Dayton Mall and ended up staying about three hours, just chatting. It was fun to reminisce about the days we shared at Kroger in the early 1990’s. She had vivid memories of many of the antics from my group of friends: Larry, James, Jon, Tim, and many others who worked there over the course of several years. She reminded me how I used to refer to a girl named Jennifer Sulfridge as Jennifer Saltblock. That cracked me up.
Jennifer is doing quite well for herself. Now a single parent with a two-year old little boy, she is working as a dental hygienist in Dayton. Some of our discussion centered around divorce, single-parenting, our respective management careers at Kroger but mostly it was about conjuring up the good (if sometimes crazy) times of early Kroger bagging and speculating on what had become of some of our old friends. I think I put the itch in her to try and reunite some more of us and have a gathering.
It was good to see Jennifer now that we’ve both shed some of the bizarre behavior of our late teen/early twenties years - and can both recall with fondness so many of the memories we shared.
Continue with the next reunion…
Oh my goodness, what a great lunch! I laughed harder than I had in months. My first job at Kroger was the best, I truly could not have wished for a better first job. The memories I have, priceless! Talking to Brad that afternoon took me back to a simpler, more innocent time in my life. The years have held a lot of experiences for me. Some good, some not so good. I appreciate the compliment from Brad that I had done a lot with my life. The truth is, my son Jake is my greatest accomplishment. I love being a mom. Though doing it alone is a challenge, those who know me know a challenge is nothing for me to shy away from.
That time back at the old Beavercreek store seemed like it was the best ever. It also seems like an eternity ago. I think about how we all looked forward to what life held for us. About our dreams for what the future held, and the fears for what was around the corner. On a less serious note, those days of partying and making fun of each other! Many times, I wish I could go back to those days. Those of looking at the baggers schedule so I could see who I would get to work with on the weekend (yes guys, I ALWAYS looked!!) The Saturdays of a busy front end and the much hoped for “price check” that would lead someone up aisle 1 where I worked. The Sundays of James and usually Larry hung over like no one’s business!! I wonder so many times what happened to everyone, and wish they knew what a fond place they held in my heart. Thank you all for being such a huge part of my great memories! My house is always open to a reunion…….
Jennifer
February 19th, 2007
I too remember Jennifer from those days in the early 90’s. Although I did not work at Krogers, I considered her one of my closest friends. I first met her in Middle school and stayed friends with her until I moved away. We even attended Basic Training together. I would love to send her an email and catch up. Rob Hoel rockhoel@aol.com)
Rob Hoel
July 7th, 2007