52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History First Job

Describe your first job. What did you do? Were you saving for something in particular, or just trying to make a living? Did that first job provide skills and make an impact on your life today?

My first job was as a "soda jerk" on a food counter in a Rexall Drug Store. I worked after school and I closed.  The evening wasn't as busy as lunch time but I had my regular customers.  A lot of the dinner customers where ambulance drivers since the store was real close to Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

Picture from best-norman-rockwell-art.com

I made hamburgers, French fries, milkshakes, and of course the ice cream soda.  This was in the age of the real vanilla, cherry and chocolate coke, plus those milkshakes were made from milk, ice cream and favoring, no pre made stuff. I also had to balance my cash register every night, so I do know how to count out change.  The other nightly chore was to clean the grill, what a nasty job that is.  Duties also include washing, drying or the dishes used during my shift, stocking and cleaning up.  I wore a white uniform and a black apron.

My hourly wage was 0.27¢ and tips.  I took home about $2 a night in tips.  I saved my tips and used my earnings as spending money. I was saving my money so I would have spending money when I went to nursing school. 

I started the job in December of 1964 when I was a senior in high school.  I wanted a job because it was too hard to go home and be with my Mom who was failing.  She died in early February.  The job did provide me with skills that helped me during my nursing career.  I learned to how to talk with people and to be comfortable with people from all walks of life. 

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History
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