Reflections 22: First Job

If you don't like your job you don't strike. You just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. ~Homer Simpson

Tell me about your first job.

My first job would arguably be cleaning Granny and Papa's house, and babysitting cousins and stuff like that. But if you want to get technical, my first job was at Big League Burger Sports Bar and Grill.

It was kind of absurd that we called it "sports bar and grill", since we had no bar, so it was familiarly known around town as Big League Burgers.

The first time that I ever ate there, Dad noticed that there was a sign that said Help Wanted, so he made me apply. Jarrod and Royce worked most of their way through High School, but Amber and I did more odd jobs for family than anything else. I filled out an application to get Dad off my case, and they called me back.

This was right after I started dating my High School boyfriend, Andrew. I remember he came out to wish me good luck on my first day.

I worked there about a year and a half--it was a good job, and it made me happy. I got good tips, and people were generally nice to me. I would always accept shifts when offered because it was so much fun. Amber worked there for a while with me, and Barbara did as well.

The cook, Tahlia, would make me special meals all the time--crab pasta salad (with a vinigrette, NO mayo!), and buffalo chicken wraps...I could always trust her to surprise me and never trick me with anything disgusting. I did try everything on the menu, which was fabulous. Mike, my boss, was really nice, but Mark was a dillweed. Luckily he left half way through to move to California.

Sometimes, it was slow, and so another waitress--Julie--taught us how to cross stitch, which was a lot of fun. Amanda was going to teach us how to tat (make lace), but I left for college before that happened. Julie also made me a stain glass camel for Christmas, which was wonderful.