Remember when

Ah yeah, first job working in a drugstore delivering prescription to seniors, light janitorial and stocking shelves. $2.50 an hour in 1980, summer of grade 7 going into grade 8. Worked part time all throughout high school as they folded the High school football program due to budget cut backs. Also the start of shitty economy with 19% interest rates. Parents just squeaking by so it was nice to have my own pocket money.

 

After high school, I worked graveyard security for a major orange juice company's west coast distribution warehouse. I think they lost money those nights, too...

 

When I first moved to Cali, gas was in the low $1s. If memory serves, I saw 99 cents when I would visit Anaheim.

 

I may have posted this once before (memory issues). I remember vividly when gas hit $1. The local station had to set it to 50 cents and put a hand written sign that the total was twice what is displayed. Why? Because the physical dials didn’t have a dollar dial, it only went to 99 cents!

 

damn, that makes you like 120 years old. Guess that CA fruit and nut diet really works!

 

More likely it was all the pilfered OJ that was trucked from FL!

But I'm flattered you think I'm that young!

 

My first "on the books" job was D'Angelos at 15, lasted a few weeks. One of the managers that was brought in after the opening got rid of several of us to hire kids of people he knew.

Before that I used to throw newspapers and mow lawns for my neighbors. I could get about 8-10 lawns a week in the summertime.

 

i was 5

 

You were 5 when you started your first real job???

 

yea a slave for my dad 40 years later still working for him... lol

 

Okay…true story. When my oldest son was 2 he asked for a peddle John Deere tractor with front loader. It was$300. We were poor. I said buddy if you want that you’re going to have to work for it. At that time I owned a landscape construction and maintenance business. 2 days later I came home to find that he had raked the neighbors yard filled multiple 33 gallon garbage cans. He did that for the next 8 mos. When he finally had enough to buy the tractor, a John Deere hat , and Carhart overalls. He then expanded his business peddling through the neighborhood raking leaves.

 

Kid's got hustle!

 

Yes and still does 24 years later. I can rest in the fact that he will be able to care for us financially when we’re old.

 

Wow..2 yrs old?

 

a choo choo train?

 

Yep and earned it by his 3rd birthday. Never thought he would have comprehended. But I guess I should have guessed because he had spent most of his years in a Kelty kid pack while I was raking beds and mowing lawns

Well I had to dig through some old school technology but finally found a picture of the proud 3 year old owner/operator after paying it off in just 8 mos…

 

Patiently waiting for a new steering wheel and a grandchild to continue the tradition

Not bad for a 24yr old tractor with high mileage from daily use. Nothin runs like a Deere

 

That is some good parenting. Much respect.

 

Drive it until the (steering) wheels fall off!

 

I sold gas for 27 cents a gallon.