The Worst Job Ever

(photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash)

There’s a long-standing joke in our family that my husband will only marry women who were “straw cooks” at Whitespot #17. This is because his first wife and I both worked there, at different times, in our youth. We didn’t know each other, thank goodness.

I make fun of him by asking what aspects of the job he found particularly “hot”? Was it the hairnet, making us look like aliens, sweating over the summer heat of the fryer?  Or was it the sexy, white, grease-spattered, hospital-style uniform we had to wear? Perhaps it was the way we came home smelling of battered fish.

I think he probably valued our work ethic for staying in a gross job to make some money. We were able to buy our own cigarettes and beer, the two most important assets of teenage life. He also benefitted from many free sides of French-fries, and everyone knows this is the best recipe for a long-lasting relationship.  

Bad summer jobs are a prerequisite coming-of-age stamp on life’s passport. I have no regrets about taking this one, because it led to bigger and better things in my life. Soon, I became a waitress, and then a hostess, at this same restaurant. That’s hitting the big-time! Hey, at least I started earning tips.

More importantly, I really enjoyed the people at that job. We had a lot of fun meeting after work for summer barbeques and softball games. There was a large staff, with people of every age and ethnicity. The job taught me a lot about interpersonal skills and how to manage my time and money. These were invaluable lessons for any teenager.

What was the worst job you ever had? Please subscribe/ share a comment below.