When we get together with David’s family, at least once or twice a year there ends up being a long conversation about all of the different cars that they have owned in their family. This is something I totally do not relate to. I am 39 years old and have owned three cars in my life – and I currently own two of them. (Technically, David does not own a car right now!) I never owned a car until I graduated from college.
However, while I have not owned many cars, I have held many jobs. This is just the opposite of my husband who has worked for a total of four employers in his lifetime (and that includes two employers while he was in high school).
We started talking about this one day and I started listing off all of the places I’ve worked. David could hardly believe it and I was actually a little surprised myself when I started listing them off. Let’s see how many I can remember, in some kind of order.
Babysitter
Page at public library
Teacher’s assistant for summer school teacher
Sales at a Karmelkorn shop
Sales at a Pendleton shop
Sales at a Zondervan bookstore
Research assistant
Substitute sorority house mother
Third/Fourth/Fifth grade teacher at private school
Substitute teacher
Temp
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship administrative assistant
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship campus staff member
Summer school teacher
Private tutor
Piano teacher
Clarinet teacher
First grade teacher at Christian school
Second/Third grade teacher at Classical Christian school
First grade teacher at charter school
Church secretary
Special projects coordinator for charter school company
Freelance editor/writer/proofreader
Co-owner of homebased business with husband
That’s all that comes to mind at the moment. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something. Notice what isn’t on there? Nothing in food service. Never got into the waitressing thing and I don’t really know why. Probably because when I was the right age to do it (college), I had a better job working in the mall at the Pendleton shop (fine women’s and men’s clothing). I worked there through most of college, had a great manager, 50% discount, and all the hours I usually wanted when I wanted them.
Now I’m happy to be a wife, mom-to-be, and business owner with my husband. I’ve done the working thing many times over and really have no desire to do it again. For me at least, home is best!
I think my list is just as long and it does include food service. And since God isn’t granting us children, I imagine that the list will continue to grow. I consider this a strength in the area of being able to adapt well to any situation! 🙂
This sounds like my list of places I’ve lived! Let’s see.. I’ve had 12 jobs since I was 14 or so (about 10 years). I’ve never worked in food service either, or in retail.
Ah…jobs. You missed out on waitressing. Being harassed by angry customers who can’t read menus, drunken golfers that think they can poke at you…yeah, you missed out. 😉
I actually waitress now at a cute little cafe in my area: its family owned and operated, and the regulars are wonderful. It looks like something straight out of You’ve Got Mail. Quaint, cute, and unpretentious. 🙂
You were an IVCF staff member? Awesome! I actually met a very dear friend through my IVCF staff member (we say he set us up. She was new, and didn’t know anyone, I needed a strong Christian mentor)…it was wonderful to have them at our wedding, and know that God really DOES do everything for a reason. 🙂
You may not have been in food service, but, judging by your list, that’s because you were obviously cut out to be a teacher. More than half of your jobs have been as a teacher in some respect! 🙂
I haven’t had very many jobs, but that probably has to do with the fact that I was married shortly after graduating high school. 🙂 I worked for a church for a while in my early teens, providing nursery care for their ladies’ Bible study and then working in the office. Then I started teaching piano when I was 14 and continued that till last December when I stopped teaching before our baby was born.
Thanks for sharing your list! I’ve just turned 28, and holding my 4th job right now. I heard someone said that it’s hard for creative people to stay at one place.. hopefully, that’s me (lately, been thinking about being a cartoonist though I can’t draw very well). And having home-based business with husband is the ideal.. my dream job.