Interview with Delores Parker
The staff at Megabytes and the Depot might well be the friendliest people on the planet. You simply can't buy a Diet Coke without a cashier calling you Sweetie, Baby or Darlin'. One Depot cashier, Delores Parker, is renowned campus-wide for her ministering smile, soft chuckle and rapport with students. We sat down with Parker, a Baltimore native and 15-year Sodexho veteran, to talk about what makes her so happy.
What do you like the kids to call you?
Some call me Delores, and a lot of kids call me Miss D. It doesn't really matter if they don't call me Miss. [But for the record, you really should call her Miss!]
How did you get to be so friendly and cheerful?
The kids treat me so nice. I've never met a bad kid in 15 years. I still correspond with a few who live out of town now. And I feel happy! That sounds corny, but I really enjoy my job.
Where did you work before?
I worked at the North Charles Hospital, which I loved, until they closed. I was in dietary there; it was a nice job. I delivered the patients their meals and got to talk and interact with them.
Do you have a family? Kids or grandkids?
I have three daughters, two grandsons and two great-grandsons. My great-grandsons are 17 and 12. The 17-year old one is in college in Georgia. The grandchildren are 20 and 36. The daughters are as old as I am. [Laughter.]
What is your favorite part of the job?
It's all good. When I first come in I work Bag-It, which I enjoy, and that's just for 50 minutes, to give whoever's there a break, which I enjoy. And for the rest of the day I'm the cashier in the Depot, talking to the kids and managing. When it's quiet, I sing to me.
What do you sing?
Rod Stewart. My daughter just gave me a tape, The Great American Songbook [Volume II].
Is he your favorite singer?
After Rod Stewart, I like Frankie Blue Eyes. [That's Frank Sinatra for those who don't frequent enough Italian restaurants.]
Favorite movie?
I haven't been to a movie in years. Honest. Every time I see one advertised, I say to myself I'll go and see it, but I never get to go. Old movies on cable are enough for me.
Favorite TV show?
I stay on CNN all night long. Honest. I'm a news freak. I watch the Price is Right every day and the Young and the Restless on Monday and Tuesday.
Favorite book?
I hate to say this c9 Do you know the Little House books? I loved them, I read them over and over again. I like the stories from English history, the awful kings and the queens. I enjoy biographies, and have quite a few of those.
What do you do when you're not working? Any hobbies?
I read. I've been to Charles Town with my cousins, and up to Delaware; that's to play the slots, you know. Actually, I joined a Pinochle club. It's a very challenging card game that's fun to play with partners. There's a group of us, ladies and gentlemen. We have a repast, and then we play. I find old folks have more fun than the young ones.
What were you like when you were 18 and 19 like the kids who eat here?
I was a bomb, too! [Riotous laughter] I had a couple of pictures that I brought in to show, and the kids couldn't believe it was me. They said, "Miss D had it goin' on!" I had lots of boyfriends, oh yes. I had fun.
What's the most amazing thing that's ever happened to you in your life?
I hit the lottery for $13,000 in the early 80's. That's how I put the down payment on my house. That was nice. The number was 1313; I'll never forget it. I was watching channel 13 on television and decided to go play the lottery, and I walked around the corner, and that's what I did.
Do you have any advice for us young, reckless college kids?
I don't try to give young people any advice. That's why I like to laugh and talk. Advice -- that's for the parents and the counselors. A lot of them go out on Thursday night, and I tell them to take care. Be safe, and stick together. You know, the guys are so nice. I like when they get dressed up; sometimes they look so grungy. When they look sharp, I say, "Wow! My, you look so handsome!" [The hidden piece of advice here is to wash regularly, get your hair cut and shine your shoes.] But I can't say one wrong thing about one kid here, or any of the kids I've known over the past 15 years. I remember one guy came back after he graduated to see if anything had made me mad yet, that made me angry. I said, "What are you talking about? No, no, you won't see that."
