Jen, you actually made me count my jobs even thought I haven’t walked the dogs yet this morning - what a revealing trip that was! I realized that work also introduces us to the values of others, good or bad. My job (#3) as grill cook in a college diner sprang to mind because I was offered $1.10/hour but paid $1.05 (this was a long time ago :). But that nickel still pisses me off and taught me the sting of being taken advantage of, and made me resolve never to do so. A much later professional job (#12) was writing for a former US President and his presidential library, from which I learned that real service lives beyond our work. Thanks
Henry, I thought of Studs Terkel's WORK too! Jen, looking forward to this essay collection! As for my (paid) jobs, lemme see: Restaurant hostess, seller of teen fashion, seller of young adult fashion, movie theater ticket-taker, college campus newspaper arts editor, reporter, sports editor, managing editor. So I guess that's eight? Or a dozen or more if you count unpaid-but-still-seriously-committed jobs.
Jen, you actually made me count my jobs even thought I haven’t walked the dogs yet this morning - what a revealing trip that was! I realized that work also introduces us to the values of others, good or bad. My job (#3) as grill cook in a college diner sprang to mind because I was offered $1.10/hour but paid $1.05 (this was a long time ago :). But that nickel still pisses me off and taught me the sting of being taken advantage of, and made me resolve never to do so. A much later professional job (#12) was writing for a former US President and his presidential library, from which I learned that real service lives beyond our work. Thanks
I want to read YOUR memoir on work, Dick. Please write it.
First rate. Well crafted. Thoughtful in San artful and engaging way. Thank you
Thank you, Henry!
The writer reminds me a bit of Studs Terkel and maybe a little like Hemingway.
Henry, I thought of Studs Terkel's WORK too! Jen, looking forward to this essay collection! As for my (paid) jobs, lemme see: Restaurant hostess, seller of teen fashion, seller of young adult fashion, movie theater ticket-taker, college campus newspaper arts editor, reporter, sports editor, managing editor. So I guess that's eight? Or a dozen or more if you count unpaid-but-still-seriously-committed jobs.
So true! Unpaid work is often the best and most transformational. I'll have to check out that book. :)
Oops. Terkel's book is titled WORKING. He wrote it in 1974, so I must've read it in high school. :)