~C17~
Sometimes I wish I had all the quarters that I wasted by plugging them into the slot of the jukebox at my folks' cafe back home in Haven, Kansas. 3 songs for 25 cents was great entertainment back in the day and I kept Ulysses S. Grant's McPherson, Kansas business out of the red all on my own. By the way, yes that was his real name. I always thought that was strange as a teenager to see his invoice tickets signed that way.
My memories of growing up in that restaurant and service station that used to be situated along the old highway that ran adjacent to the folks' business are still pretty fresh in mind. It was where I learned my early work ethic from parents who believed in starting their brood of children out very young in the world of serving patrons good food. I was 11 the day the doors opened for the first time and my little sister only 9. It didn't matter how young we were at the time, our mother put an apron on us and told us to get to work. It seems kind of strange to think about it now, but at age 63 I have been in the workforce for well over 50 years.
No wonder my feet are tired.
Their restaurant and service station, known as "Scott's Cafe and Service", is long gone now. It was bulldozed down many years ago and a convenience store shot up in its place. Sometimes when I go back home to Haven, I drive through the parking lot that once long ago was filled with cars and semis that belonged to travelers whose stomachs and gas tanks registered on empty.
Half of a century feels like yesterday at times, or at least only a couple of years ago. I'm glad that once I had the chance to thank my mom for teaching me how to work so hard at such a very young age. Back then it didn't always seem fun or fair to have to work all the time, especially when my high school friends were out having a great Saturday night dragging Main in Hutch. In the years that followed I realized just how important a strong work ethic is and that the value of having one is at the top of the list of character traits prospective employers are looking for.
And about all of those quarters I wasted, maybe they really weren't wasted at all. I'm starting to look at it as contributing to the 1970's Haven economy in my own small way. There is really nothing better than hearing "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night at 6 a.m. in the morning on a Sunday.
Just ask the 16-year old girl that I used to be.
She'd tell you all about it.
My father was the finest man I ever knew. He helped to teach me how to work hard and do an honest day's work. It was the best gift that he could have ever given me and one that had a long lasting effect.
My memories of growing up in that restaurant and service station that used to be situated along the old highway that ran adjacent to the folks' business are still pretty fresh in mind. It was where I learned my early work ethic from parents who believed in starting their brood of children out very young in the world of serving patrons good food. I was 11 the day the doors opened for the first time and my little sister only 9. It didn't matter how young we were at the time, our mother put an apron on us and told us to get to work. It seems kind of strange to think about it now, but at age 63 I have been in the workforce for well over 50 years.
No wonder my feet are tired.
Their restaurant and service station, known as "Scott's Cafe and Service", is long gone now. It was bulldozed down many years ago and a convenience store shot up in its place. Sometimes when I go back home to Haven, I drive through the parking lot that once long ago was filled with cars and semis that belonged to travelers whose stomachs and gas tanks registered on empty.
Half of a century feels like yesterday at times, or at least only a couple of years ago. I'm glad that once I had the chance to thank my mom for teaching me how to work so hard at such a very young age. Back then it didn't always seem fun or fair to have to work all the time, especially when my high school friends were out having a great Saturday night dragging Main in Hutch. In the years that followed I realized just how important a strong work ethic is and that the value of having one is at the top of the list of character traits prospective employers are looking for.
And about all of those quarters I wasted, maybe they really weren't wasted at all. I'm starting to look at it as contributing to the 1970's Haven economy in my own small way. There is really nothing better than hearing "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night at 6 a.m. in the morning on a Sunday.
Just ask the 16-year old girl that I used to be.
She'd tell you all about it.
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