[redwitch]

An allowance or reward for good grades was out of the question. Dad died and we went from upper middle class to below poverty. I don't know how my mother did it, but I had no clue we were suddenly poor. She did her best to continue the same lifestyle with the difference being the house was not as nice and clothes were homemade but beautiful.

Started babysitting around age 12 -- gave my mom half of whatever I earned. Summers I worked in the local flower nursery and weekends in strawberry fields. Got into the school work program when I was 14. I worked for the city's public works department as a clerk. Honestly don't remember what I did there but I know it was WAY better than the hothouses or the fields.

Started college when I was 15 (almost 16). Worked at a local law firm as a "night" receptionist (6:00-10:00). Phone hardly ever rang but it was a great way to get paid to study, which was the idea behind this job. Then worked at Denny's about 3 blocks away. Quit the law firm and Denny's when I was 18 and started serving cocktails -- work was much easier and the money was really good. Did that until I graduated from college.

After college I got into an automobile accident and couldn't continue my education (needed at least a Master's). So, put my degree in child psychology to very good use -- became a legal secretary for the next 30 years and loved almost every second of it.

And now I have a small business in TV doing a little bit of everything. My California friends laugh every time I mention that I cleaned a house or weeded a yard (I always hired someone to do it for me cause I hated doing those two things). Strangely, I love what I'm doing now, too.