Work History

As I prepare to start a new job, I have been thinking about my work history. I moved to Kennewick in 1979, one week after getting married that June. By October I had discovered the mall. Until I was about 15 years old I didn't even know what a mall was. When we visited cousins in Tacoma the older kids talked about going to the mall, and I thought it was a malt shop.
Well, I walked into Hickory Farms of Ohio at Columbia Center Mall, and I recognized the man behind the cheese counter. I had met him during a summer visit with my friends, Elece and Traci, in Deer Park, Washington when I was in high school. I knew him as Moose. We started visiting and he asked me if I was interested in working through the holidays. I was. I interviewed with the managers, Judy and Jean, and I started my first real job. I enjoyed the camaraderie with co-workers, interacting with customers and the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season. Over the following 6 years I worked at Hickory Farms whenever I was able. Moose moved on and he is now Pasco Police Captain, Jim Raymond. I'm not sure if he knows it, but his faith in me had a huge impact on my life.
The last time I was in Hickory Farms was in 1986, shortly after my dad passed away and just before the store closed for good at the mall. Now they only operate holiday kiosks.
Sometime after that (probably 1987), I made frequent trips to downtown Kennewick. I loved wandering in and out of the little shops. I became friendly with Joyce Mineart at The Enchanted Toy Shoppe. Our husbands worked together and I enjoyed visiting with her. After several visits to the store she asked me if I wanted a job. I did. I loved the toy shop. It was the best toy shop I have ever been in and the customers were always fun. Of course, the employee discount was also helpful when Christmas rolled around.
While I was working at the toy shop, I was offered another part-time job as a janitor at my church, which I took. I cleaned the pre-school and the church building every week. I don't remember how long I had the job, but eventually I decided it was too much for me.
In September of 1990 I decided I needed to do something more. I had turned 30 that summer and I felt like I was missing something. I opened the newspaper and saw an ad for an entry level, part-time courier position at the Tri-City Herald. It was the only job I applied for, and I got it.
I stayed at the Herald for over 20 years. When I was laid off I was devastated. It took me at least a year to even begin to feel better. Even though I was so sad, I didn't think finding a job would be difficult. I guess I'd been fairly lucky up to that point, with jobs finding me, rather than the other way around.
There are times when I've wished I had accepted offer to stay at the TCH as a part-timer, but I am also very happy with my college experience.
Last Friday I started my new job and I enjoyed the day. There are a lot of things I need to learn and improve on, but I guess that is normal when you start something new. The people are nice and the duties are interesting and diverse. It is going to be an adventure!
I wish it was more than one day per week!