While working a cash register Christmas morning, Trina Cochran saw no reason to have a case of the bah-humbugs.
Wearing a Santa hat and a smile, she didn’t appear to lack an ounce of holiday spirit during her shift at the Portside Texaco gas station in Port Angeles.
But why work on one of the few days meant for relaxation?
“Someone’s got to do it,” Cochran, 29, responded in a matter-of-fact tone.
That nonchalant attitude toward forgoing a bit of leisure for labor on the holiday wasn’t hers alone.
Other North Olympic Peninsula residents responsible for keeping the economy chugging along for one more day after weeks of pre-Christmas spending shared a similar outlook.
KC Kiesling, manager of Port Angeles’ Royal Victorian Motel, said she didn’t mind working during the holiday; she was just happy to have a job.
“It’s not so bad,” said the 55-year-old South Korean immigrant.
“Why not enjoy working?” she added.
For others without local family ties or a tradition celebrating the holiday, working Christmas seemed like the right thing to do.
Julie Mason, a bartender at Sirens Pub in Port Townsend, said she opted to work Christmas because unlike some of her co-workers, most of her family is on the other side of the country.
“My family is back in Virginia, so I thought I might help out some other co-workers who may have some family here,” said Mason, 30.
Steven Canepa, a barista at the Veela Cafe in Port Angeles, said he volunteered to work because, as a Jehovah’s Witness, he grew up not celebrating holidays.
Canepa, 20, said he had a few customers by 9 a.m. but expected a fairly laid-back day.
“I honestly don’t expect to see too many people because everyone is at home with their families,” he said.
“But for those people who work on Christmas or just out and about, they will be able to stop by this warm place . . . and have a cup of coffee.”
While many people try to get time off around the holidays, that’s not always an option for medical personnel.
But at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend, they always make the best of it, said Jim Vaughan, nursing supervisor.
“With our job, it goes with the territory,” he said.
“But the staff is remarkably resilient about working on Christmas,” he added.
Mason said the pub was expecting to get a “decent crowd” since most other restaurants and shops in Port Townsend were closed.
Downtown Port Angeles also had few shops open on Christmas.
But Don Zeller, owner of Zeller’s Antiques, said he welcomed the lull in shoppers.
Expecting few people downtown, he said he was going to remain closed but spend the day catching up on some work, such as restocking shelves.
“Today is just one of the days I can do other in-store work,” said Zeller, 50.
Other than that, he said, he planned to just enjoy the “peace and quiet.”
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
