Women and Work Job # 8,9, 10

Job #8   Receptionist

I worked as a receptionist at Miracle Ear for 2 years.  I scheduled appointments, made phone calls, and greeted people that came in for hearing tests.

Job # 9 Nursing Assistant

Wearing white scrubs and filling my pockets with disposable latex gloves before starting my shift, made me feel important.  With my head held high, I'd walk into a residents room to empty a catheter bag, knowing I'd become a health care professional.

  I loved my job.

I learned how to change the bed of a 325 pound comatose woman  while she was lying right smack dab in the middle of it.  I fed those who couldn't feed themselves and I cleaned slobber from their faces.  I changed dirty 'diapers' and bathed angry dementia patients who wanted me dead.  I made eye contact with the wild - ones that no one else could tame, and we had an understanding.  I singlehandedly took care of an entire hall of patients for twelve hours straight 6PM to 6AM shift, with just a half hour break at 2 AM.  I was a 120 lb.  Zombie as I'd clock out in the morning and head for home.

Every night was a new adventure.  I cried, I laughed, and I knew... deep in my heart that I'd never in my life have a job that would be more of a blessing to me.

When I left my job at the nursing home, I came back often to visit those who had become my friends.

Job # 10

When I heard that the Hearing Aid Specialist position was coming open at Miracle Ear (the same store where I had been secretary for 2 years) I had to apply.  Imagine me being the boss that I used to work for.    I had an opportunity to quadruple my income and have my own secretary.  But wait.  I knew nothing about being white collar.  Heck, I didn't even own one.   How could I convince the Franchise owner that I was right for the job?

"I know all of the customers!"  "I'm willing to learn."  "I know I can do it!"  "Please, please please...  give me a chance!!!"

Tony was all about helping the underdog, and he gave me the thumbs up, and soon this housewife/factory worker/cleaning lady/sitter/secretary/nursing assistant was about to put away the jeans and scrubs and make a trip to the Bon Ton to invest in some dress clothes.  It was time to clean up, stand tall, and pretend like I knew what I was doing.

This is me when I first started.  I wasn't dressed for work that day because it was an off day.  The audiometer to the right has been replaced with a new and improved one.

It was then that I was forced to face my fears of driving out of my home town.  My Church prayed for me as I ventured out into the world of the unknown and battled city traffic in Baltimore,  Frederick, and Glen Burnie, to train for my new job.

Soon I was in my own office with a stack of books.  

"Study!" Tony said, for my next feat would be to pass the State Board Exam.

I held a temporary license while I studied, and worked hard.  My first week on my own I sold a whooping 11 hearing aids, which is very good in the hearing aid business.  The Franchise had been sold back to Corporate Miracle Ear, and that meant Corporate Business meetings, flying (yes, another fear I faced), Exquisite hotels, Travel etc.  And it was all FREE.  Over ten years later, I'm still here.

So, there you have it.  My rise from water spiller waitress to Hearing Aid Specialist.

So I'll bet you're wondering by now - why would I care to tell you about all my past employment?  

And why on so many of your blogs have I commented Aah...  

  If you were to look back you'd see that some of my comments to your blogs started out with an Aah...  

And...  Did you know that Wednesday is June 1?  I've given you enough clues.  

I'm sure you're all knowing where we go from here... but maybe not details.

Two more days.  See you then.

To be continued.....

Women and Work Job # 6 & 7

 Job # 6.  Telemarketer

Telemarketer for Olan Mills Studio.   A great sales opportunity.  Sell portrait packages.  They used deception to get people to apply for the job, then they tried to bully them into being deceptive to people they spoke with on the phones.

I didn't fit in with the other girls and was left go

 after the first week.

Job # 7 Customer Service in a Designer Blind Factory

There was a two week training period for this job.  I tried my best and the supervisor knew it.  That's why she broke it to me gently.  "You're not right for the job" instead of saying - "You're not smart enough for the job."  

To Be continued...

Women and Work. Job #5

Job #5  Sitting with the Elderly

There is nothing quite so rewarding as when you feel needed.

Venetta called me her girl.  On Saturday and Sunday mornings she'd wait for me, propped up in her hospital bed and always wearing the same white cotton gown and the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen, for me to unlock the front door and come in to help her out of bed.  For me, it was a learning experience.  For her, it was a journey back in time as she shared stories of vacations, Christmas's, and life on Ormand street of days gone by.  When she died, I dreamed about her often and I missed her as if she'd been my own mother.

Then there was Mary, who had Parkensins disease.  Before her morning meds she trembled terribly.  By noon she'd be much calmer and we'd watch television together, eat lunch, tell stories and laugh, or go for groceries.  Watching the Scarecrow and Mrs. King was mandatory and she made no bones about the fact that she was in love with Bruce Boxleitner.

Lilly was a writer.  I would clean her house and take her for groceries.  She was cantankerous...  but I did as I was told and stayed quiet.

The list goes on and on and the blessings were many.

To Be Continued...

Women and Work. Job #4

Job # 4  Cleaning Lady

How could we possibly make ends meet?  Three children and one working parent was not cutting it.  Then the bright idea.

Situations Wanted:

Cleaning lady available. Honest. Dependable. $7 an hour. Call 555-5555.

  I was not only my own boss, but I set my own hours and screened my jobs as well.  If someone was impossible to work for, I could just move on.  Before I knew it, I was turning down jobs.

One of the most meticulous of clients was a dentist and her podiatrist husband who considered me their maid even though I only worked for them one day out of the week.  I did everything for them.  I changed their bed linens, washed the dishes, did the laundry, scrubbed their floors on my hands and knees, and whipped their huge 9 room home into shape in just 6 hours time.  They very sweetly expected perfection , and they were not willing to let me go that easy when I revealed to them that I'd be leaving because I needed to once again be home with my baby.  They lured me into staying for a time, by adding a new playpen and baby accessories to their decor and it worked for a while, but soon  I had to graciously depart, but not before training another girl to be my clone. 

 About a year later, I was back with them but this time with a much larger salary.  Cleaning ladies were bringing in over $10 an hour.  I latched onto a few good paying jobs, sometimes dragging  kids, matchbox cars, books and cowboys and indians along.  

 

To Be Continued.....

Women and Work Job #3

Job # 3

The years glided by and I got married and started a family.  I had moved on to a different sewing factory, one that paid more and there I sewed baby clothes.  Since I was a good, hard worker, the boss had no problem hiring me back after I would quit for a while to care for my babies.  It was an on again/off again job>  It's not easy working full time when babies need to be cared for at home.  I never burned my bridges though, and was always welcomed back after a leave of absence.

The girls threw a surprise baby shower
for me just weeks before I gave birth to my first.  

I couldn't get my scanner to work right, so sorry
for the backwards photo.  

The finest shift I ever had was 11PM to 7AM.  I could work all night, then be home during the day with my newest baby, Lindsey.  We didn't have to pay a sitter.

My dear sister, Lindy lived next door and told me, "If you ever need me to keep Lindsey while you get some sleep...  just bring her over."

One morning after I had taken the boys to school, I laid on the sofa and put my infant daughter beside of me on the floor... and I closed my eyes.  When I opened my eyes a while later, she was gone!!!  I was frantic at first, then ran to Lindy's house next door.   I had been so tired, that I didn't remember taking her over  there...  and no, I did not take drugs of any kind.  I was just exhausted and tired.

The next day I gave my two week notice at work...

To Be Continued....