| 05/24/08 12:03 AM |
#151
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Greg Burbo
Cars were the vital link in our suburban lives. Even a Pinto meant FREEDOM! (although you were a little worried about the redneck behind you in the huge '50's vintage pickup with the real crome bumper).
But anyway, those cars, may they rust in peace, took us to two places--hanging out with friends and our jobs. "Work is the curse of the drinking class," as my Irish forebears will tell you. But those early jobs made the gas money and the beer money happen. My first job was putting condiments on fried frozen hockey pucks at the Mcdonald's on 220. I got the job becuase my brother Mike was an assistant manager. In a few months, I moved up to actually throwing those frozen hockey pucks on the grill, searing them and shoveling them to the condiment guys. One day, April 1st, they called me in to replace some guy that didn't show up. I needed the hours really bad that week. So he shows up finally, two hours late, and they sent me home! I couldn't believe this, got my Irish up and ripped my uniform off in the front of the store (actually, just the shirt, I brought the pants back later). Needless to say my career in burgers was tragically CUT SHORT.
Fortunately, I was dating Susan Young "77 at the time. Her mother was assistant manager of the Lane Bryant store in the mall. A store for ladies of generous proportions. They needed someone to climb ladders to change light bulbs, open boxes and fix things. They apparently needed to pay me more than old Ronald did also. I learned things about women that I still don't want to know (but nothing compared to what I learned in nursing school--when they get going, they forget the there's a man around). All the same, it kept me in gas and gave me the run of the mall. I learned some truly amazing things about pipe smoking and expensive cigarettes from the guy at the smoke shop in the French quarter. I unlearned some of them in the cadaver lab at nursing school.
I've never really thought about how those two jobs affected my later choices. My son and I still prefer Mcdonald's for a quick meal when mom isn't going to be home. I just try not to look behind the counter, its easier that way.
Working at Lane Bryant might have made nursing shool a little less of a culture shock. Mainly, it helped keep my relationship with Susan going. If her mom likes you, you have a job and a car, good things happen!
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