odd jobs

Last night I dreamed I was driving the Sr. Citizens' bus.

I actually dreamed I was stepping on all their ears too.

This after watching Dumbo...I hope.

Anyhoo...

It made me think of all the jobs I have had.

I drove the Senior Citizen bus one whole summer.

It was a blast.

It was part of my college practicum.

I had to work in the senior home,

and I was employed by the local RSVP

(retired senior volunteer program)

and no I didn't have a salary.

I paid them...for education.

My degree...Home Ec./Family Services.

I did time in a child care program too.

It all is coming in handy now, huh?

I also worked summers in a local paper factory.

That taught me a lot about life.

There was a lot of drama and

a lot of tomfoolery going on there.

I got an education very quickly on how not to behave.

They made cups, lids, and paper plates.

I worked on the plates one summer,

and a couple of Christmas breaks,

and was a material handler one summer.

To this day my family says...

Well, Son of a cup maker.

Nicer than the usual sentiment.

Use it, it's fun to say.

Another summer the factory wasn't hiring

so I worked at a local restaurant...

The Country School.

I was the girl in the ugly rust polyester dress,

in the back

filling the orders. 

I was the one who said "order up".

I was also the one who ate the chicken liver 

when it fell out of the basket.

The bosses were great and it was a fun job

even if I went home smelling like a fry.

We got married just before my last semester

and I drove to school.

This is when I worked unpaid at the daycare.
After graduation it was 1981.

The Reagan administration had cut many social programs.

I couldn't find a  job.

I went to work for one month 

for a local marketing service company.

They gave market advice for the stock market.

The owner was weird.

He was seriously disturbed.

I had no idea what I was doing and

he really didn't know what he was doing.

Luckily for me, an aide job 

came available at the school. 

I was the aide for a boy

with Down Syndrome who was

mainstreamed into first grade.

(Isn't God smart?)

I worked there that year and 

then had my first child, Annie that June.

I stayed at home from then on

and had 4 more babies in the next 4 years.

During the years I was raising kids though,

I always had a job to earn extra money.

I babysat a couple of extra kids.

I sold Longaberger baskets for a time.

(There a many, many in storage in the top of the shed) 

I substitute taught (worst job ever).

I sold antiques and did antique shows.

( again, many in the shed)

I cleaned houses.

We bought the trailer park 

and had/have rentals.

I farmed with my husband and father in law

during harvest( loved it)

and did the farmer's wife "go-for" and

"meals on wheels" thing.

Then Annie had Aubrie.

I fell head over heels.

I retired from the antique shop,

and farming

(but not the "go-for and cook thing).

Now I keep the grand kids 

and visit my folks.

I get paid with hugs and kisses

and lots of memories.

It is the best job yet.

It's what I still wanna do, when I grow up.