[eweissenbach]

We lived just outside a very small town as I grew up, and there were only about 2 jobs available to teens, which were taken up by townies or children of the business owners. I was expected to help around the house and never got an actual allowance, but things I needed and some I just wanted, were seldom denied me. Since I was an athlete, involved in sports year-round a regular job was almost impossible to work around school, practice, and games. In the summer when in high school and into college I worked as a hay hauler on a haying crew. 2 cents a bale, and if you had a good situation you could put up close to 1000 bales in a day -- a twenty dollar day was big-time in those days. I still remember the wonderful feeling of taking a shower and drinking an ice tea (or later a beer) after hauling alfalfa hay all day in 100 degree temps with alfalfa seeds and dust covering my body stuck to the sweat. In college I also spread hot pack asphalt on a road crew, lifeguarded, and worked for a few months at Hallmark Card Co. Fortunately scholarships along with some help from my parents got me through college without any loans. Just one of a thousand things I am forever grateful to my wonderful parents for.