This week on KAXE, we all thought back to our youth and those early jobs we had. Some were pretty grueling — like hauling cinder blocks — and some seemed pretty nice — like scooping ice cream.
Here's what we heard
Heather from Minneapolis said, "My first job was at the movie theater at the new Westgate Mall in Brainerd. I got to wear a stylish polyester black and white dress that always smelled like popcorn, even when washed. All the popcorn and pop one could eat was included in the compensation. Dirty Dancing played for months in 1987. I can still recite nearly every scene."
Bob from Twig wrote, "I grew up in Milwaukee. My first job was caring for the landscape at the Blue & White Motel in the early 70's. The couple that owned it mostly spoke German and were very nice folks. I remember the minimum wage was about $1.65 per hour."
Donna texted, "My first job was at Fanny Farmer. I was 15. I did not even like candy or chocolate, but I was trained that the only way to sell chocolates is to know them all. They told me to eat as much as I wanted. I learned to like certain chocolates and the cashews and pistachios. I gained 8 pounds working there."
KAXE volunteer and Green Cheese Trivia host Brandon Chase texted, "My first real job was at Fairview Cemetery in Stillwater. I worked there four years when I was 14-18. It was 80 acres of peace and tranquillity. I performed all duties. Best job I have ever had."
Fellow volunteer and Green Cheese Trivia host Julie Crabb said, "My first job was a drive up restaurant and I delivered meals on skates."
Linda from Hackensack described working at Sandy's Restaurant in St. Cloud, which was a precursor of Hardee's. She said, "I dressed up like the mascot of the restaurant, which was a young dancing Scottish girl, in a kilt and a beret, for our grand opening. A good friend of mine's father owned the store, so we got those jobs!"
John from Chicago told us, "My first true job, not a paper route or summer camp counselor, was in 1988. Upon graduating from high school in Duluth, I flew to Bethel, Alaska, where I was an industrial freezer operator, processing fresh Alaskan salmon for Kemp-Palucci Seafood market in Japan. It was hard work: 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week for about 10 weeks, until the season ended."
Both KAXE Volunteer Coordinator Dan Gannon and volunteer Jim Gallagher worked at a golf course in the Chicago area. Jim said, "The movie Caddyshack is not entirely fiction."
Dan said, "I learned I don’t like carrying rich people’s stuff around. Also learned I do not like golf. At all. ... The owner of Rolo candy tipped me in candy, and I've never eaten a Rolo since."
What was your first job? Text 218-326-1234 to join the conversation, or email us!
