After high school graduation, my first "real" job was in the manufacturing sector. I assembled crucifixions. Only stayed at that job for 7 months before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. While in high school I would help my dad, grandpa (Pèpère) and my brother as they were all masons, bricklayers, plasterers and such. Lots of laboring for them. The job I really enjoyed was being in the Navy, traveling and working on aircrafts. I have only had legal jobs in my life so wasn't many jobs to choose my best one.
First “real” job I had was actually a summer job in a salad dressing bottling plant. Dan, you might recognize the brand, long since gone, Pfiefer’s. Half my day was spent at the end of a bottling line stacking cases of dressing on pallets. The other half, at the front of the line, opening new cases of glass and flipping it over for the people feeding glass. Worst was when they bottled red wine vinegar dressing. Try breathing those fumes 8 to 10 hours a day. I earned a whole new respect for manual labor that summer. Job I loved was definitely teaching, especially the last 28 in a middle school.
Phew, that sounds pretty grueling! And I have to hand it to you as a middle school teacher. I spent some time being a substitute teacher in middle school and whoa boy, that was exhausting!
My first real job was as a waitress in a coffeeshop in the tourist town I grew up in. That job gave me serious respect for anyone who works in a service job! I was terrible at it, and was glad when the summer was over so I could go back to school and escape that job. The first job I loved was as a coop student (i.e. paid intern) at Digital Equipment Corporation. I was a very junior programmer! I lucked out and got a team lead who had come from academia, so he found all kinds of interesting small projects for me to do. I’m still friends with him, and with one of the managers in the department.
Well, thinking about it, I have had at least 20 jobs. Real ones, with hours and pay. Each one taught me something. The ones I loved most - architectural drafting, cartography/GIS, teaching science. One thing evolved into the next somehow.
Very first paying job was delivering furniture. After a few days of moving couches etc. from truck to house I was done. My favorite job was working for a stone mason. It was very physical and very rewarding. I also developed a strong work ethic doing that and it stayed with me all my life.
No more masonry...up until last year I was still building/repairing stone walls but sadly my back limits what I can do. All those years of heavy lifting have taken a toll.
After high school graduation, my first "real" job was in the manufacturing sector. I assembled crucifixions. Only stayed at that job for 7 months before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. While in high school I would help my dad, grandpa (Pèpère) and my brother as they were all masons, bricklayers, plasterers and such. Lots of laboring for them. The job I really enjoyed was being in the Navy, traveling and working on aircrafts. I have only had legal jobs in my life so wasn't many jobs to choose my best one.
What's a crucifixtion? I mean aside from the religious meaning I assume?
Exactly what you said. Riveted the image of Christ onto a cross. I meant to say only 5 jobs in my life that I paid taxes.
Oh! Like on an assembly line type of thing, a factory that made crucifixes?
You got it!!!
Fascinating! Like that's one of those jobs I wouldn't even think of as a job LOL
First “real” job I had was actually a summer job in a salad dressing bottling plant. Dan, you might recognize the brand, long since gone, Pfiefer’s. Half my day was spent at the end of a bottling line stacking cases of dressing on pallets. The other half, at the front of the line, opening new cases of glass and flipping it over for the people feeding glass. Worst was when they bottled red wine vinegar dressing. Try breathing those fumes 8 to 10 hours a day. I earned a whole new respect for manual labor that summer. Job I loved was definitely teaching, especially the last 28 in a middle school.
Phew, that sounds pretty grueling! And I have to hand it to you as a middle school teacher. I spent some time being a substitute teacher in middle school and whoa boy, that was exhausting!
28 years middle school shop. I loved it. Key to middle school….. you just need to convince them that you’re just a little crazier than they are.
My first real job was as a waitress in a coffeeshop in the tourist town I grew up in. That job gave me serious respect for anyone who works in a service job! I was terrible at it, and was glad when the summer was over so I could go back to school and escape that job. The first job I loved was as a coop student (i.e. paid intern) at Digital Equipment Corporation. I was a very junior programmer! I lucked out and got a team lead who had come from academia, so he found all kinds of interesting small projects for me to do. I’m still friends with him, and with one of the managers in the department.
I hear ya. My job through college was flipping pizzas at a mall pizza joint, man that was hard work!
Well, thinking about it, I have had at least 20 jobs. Real ones, with hours and pay. Each one taught me something. The ones I loved most - architectural drafting, cartography/GIS, teaching science. One thing evolved into the next somehow.
Cartography! Neat!
Very first paying job was delivering furniture. After a few days of moving couches etc. from truck to house I was done. My favorite job was working for a stone mason. It was very physical and very rewarding. I also developed a strong work ethic doing that and it stayed with me all my life.
Oh how fascinating! Do you still fiddle in mason work?
No more masonry...up until last year I was still building/repairing stone walls but sadly my back limits what I can do. All those years of heavy lifting have taken a toll.
For the first job I loved, I'd have to say teaching, not any of the other get-by ones that preceded it.
What did you teach?
High school English and Latin, then college writing and critical thinking courses.