My First Job

Nancy Eike

Writer

I remember my first job was cashier at Warner’s Hardware in Maplewood, right on the corner of Highways 61 and 36. I was 15 and, since I was the sixth of seven kids, my mom liked the idea of me working and earning a few extra bucks to buy those coveted Lee painters’ pants everybody had to wear (the blue and the white, thank you very much!). But she didn’t like the fact that she would have to drive me there right after she finished working a long shift at Berg-Torseth. Sorry, mom.

I vividly remember the blue smocks with the yellowed, plastic nametags we had to don alerting customers of who we were, and freezing every time the glass double-doors opened wide in the winter and the frigid air crept in like an uninvited guest. 

And, I remember Brad Rasmussen…sigh. He was dreamy. He was from that faraway land called White Bear; went to Mariner High School; had brown hair and blue eyes; and worked in sundries. I remember not knowing what sundries actually were until I happened upon the sign one day in the aisle of the store.

But I also remember I learned a lot in that first job: how to talk to people, how to actually make change (unlike today), how to be on time and be responsible and, ultimately, I guess I learned a little bit about who I was.

Check out my February issue feature on how East Ridge High School’s internship program is allowing students to gain work experience, or visit woodburymag.com starting February 1.

Share this Blog

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•