First Jobs

When I was 18 years old, Tom, a man in my ward told me about a job opening at the supermarket he worked at.  He was a school teacher by day and supplemented his income by working as a cashier at night. 

I don't know how he did it.

"Loralee, the bakery department has an opening.  Go and apply."

Dressing carefully, I drove to the grocery store and asked to speak to the bakery manager.  When I told her that I heard their was an opening and I would like to apply, she replied, "There is no opening.  You heard wrong."

A few days later, Tom asked me how it went.  I told him that there wasn't an opening.

"Oh, there's an opening.  Go again.  Tell the manager I sent you."

Reluctantly, I followed his orders.  I didn't want to be told "no" twice.

To my surprise, there was an opening this time.  After a short interview, I was hired!  I had my first non-babysitting job and I was thrilled.  Skeeter, my boss (her real name was Juanita but everyone called her Skeeter) was demanding, but I think she eventually realized that I was a hard worker and tried to do my best.  When I left that job a year later to attend college out-of-state, she presented to me a pendant necklace which I still have.

Emily is now 18 years old and she's had her share of babysitting, house-sitting, and pet sitting gigs, but it's time to make a little more money.  She began applying for jobs--in person and online.  Some of the application questions amazed her.  She wasn't sure what they meant.  She asked my opinion.  I wasn't sure what they meant either!

After applying at many business establishments, she had a group interview at a small clothing and accessory store.  She came home discouraged.  Nearly everyone else had more experience than she did. 

"I did not get this job!" she exclaimed.

A few days later, the phone rang.  It was the hiring manager.  She offered her a summer position.

"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed at least a couple of times. 

Good for you, Emily!  You did it without any friend or family connections.  Good luck on your new part-time job. 

Announcing....

I enjoy making announcements--especially if they are of the happy variety.

A few weeks ago, I sent a text to my married darling daughters with the following announcement:

BREAKING NEWS!  I purchased my first watermelon of the summer!

Now, that might not be breaking news for MOST people, but for me with my passion for sweet and juicy watermelon, it was a big deal.  I LOVE watermelon!  It's my favorite fruit and when I purchased my first one sometime the middle of May, it was big news for me. 

Of course, my darling daughters responded with cheers.  They know how much watermelon means to me.  I can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner and sometimes afternoon and before bedtime snacks.  Do you get a little sense of WHY buying my first watermelon was such big news? 


About eight years ago, I got up in the front of Relief Society to share some other good news.

I announced that after four daughters and 23 years of marriage I was finally expecting a son!

Of course, there was much exclamations from the women in the room.  Emily was 10 at the time.  That's a pretty big gap between a fourth and fifth child.  However, it was my way of announcing Christie's engagement and that we were finally getting a son-in-law.

So, yesterday I did it again.

I made a big announcement in Young Women because that is where I currently serve. 

I walked to the front of the room and twirled.  (That is what the young women do in this ward--they twirl when they want to share good news.)

With a catch in my voice and a few tears in my eyes, I pulled out an apron that was given to me by darling daughter Heather and her husband Dustin on Mother's Day. 

This is a smile of pure joy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I am going to be a grandmother sometime the end of November or beginning of December. 

I LOVE making happy announcements!