Part II: ...to work I go!

​I didn't realize until I was grown and started earning my own living, what a sacrifice my parents made to send me to college.  I know that my Daddy only made $300 a week during those days and the college I attended (Milligan) was one of the most expensive around.  I suspect that my sister, Millie also helped, although she never said.

Because it was so expensive, I did a work program where I worked at the school and what I earned went on my tuition.  My first job was in the kitchen.  I did everything there was to do from serve food to doing the dishes.  I loved that job because I got to talk to all my friends going through the line.  

One day we were in the kitchen doing the dishes and we decided to see how high we could stack the plastic glasses before they fell.  We had gotten them to a pretty good height when our supervisor, Mrs. Ritz, happened to look in and see what we were doing.  For some reason, the first name out of her mouth was PAT COMBS!  I don't know why!  I wasn't the only one.

I also worked in the library and ended up my last year working for the Dean, Dean Oaks.  He forgot to turn my work hours in, so when I graduated, there was no diploma!  All my family was there for my graduation and when I opened the diploma cover to show them
it was empty.  Of course I straightened it out, but again, I was so embarrassed!  

I also cleaned my sister Millie's apartment every week and she paid me a dollar.  One week she asked me if I had seen a shoe of hers.  I told her no, but I would look.  This went on for about 3 weeks...her asking me if I had seen her shoe and me saying no.  Finally she told me she knew where the shoe was all along...underneath her bed.  She just wanted to see how long it would take me to actually sweep under there and find it!

While in college, I worked every Christmas at Knox Department store in downtown Knoxville.  I lined up my job every year for the next Christmas.  The men's department always asked for me because I kept the tables with pants stacked on them straight.  NOT an easy job.  

One day I went into work and the perfume counter person wasn't there so they asked me to fill in.  I picked up a perfume bottle and pushed the spray button and it was aimed toward me!  It went right into my eyes!  There was a cop there that I had become friends with during the years I worked there, and he told me to go to the bathroom and wash out my eyes and he would man my counter!  Honestly!  What in the world was I thinking!!!

During the summer while in college, I worked on the city playgrounds.  It was hot, exhausting work and I had to ride the bus or walk to and from work.  It paid $25 a week.  I saved it for college as well.  One day one of the children climbed a fence that had crossed wire at the top and he fell and ripped a chunk out of his arm.  I took him to the hospital and called his Mother.  He was hysterical, and I almost was.  When the Dr. started to sew him up, I had to put my head between my legs.

When his Mother came in I realized why he was so hysterical.  He kept saying, are they going to take my arm???  His mother only had one arm.  No wonder he was upset!

After my senior year in college I worked for 3 summers as a girl scout counselor at a girl scout camp.  To be continued......