Careers - Then and Now

Irish Coffeehouse is looking for a new career. She would like to know what we dreamed of being and what we became. She would even like to know what we would do tomorrow if we could have any career.  Now I got a little wordy, so if you want to just catch the highlights, I have made each job in a colored font, so feel free to skim.

When I was a little girl I dreamed of being the first woman on the moon or the first woman President. I knew neither of those would ever come true but it was fun to dream. As sadly, boring, as it will sound I truly, in my heart of hearts wanted to be a wife and mother, nothing else.

I was a candy striper ages 13-17. At 16, when I could finally get a paying job, I waitressed at an Italian place called Mama Mia’s. They have long since closed and I really miss their food. But waitressing was a fun job and I have done it since and would happily do it again.

I was able to get my certified nurses aide (CNA) during my senior year of high school, in fact I graduated top of my class and received an award that I forget the name of right now. I worked in a nursing home, then on the cancer floor of a hospital, then I got married and started having my babies. And let my certification expire.

Many moons ago, I decided to go to college and started getting a degree in Medical Technology. I managed to keep a B average in my full-time schedule even with 4 children under 6 years old. I don’t imagine I’ll ever finish that because I really can’t see myself sitting looking through a microscope all day, anymore.

Throughout the years I have had various jobs but only when needed. While the kids were little I babysat and sewed displays for Wal-Mart and for a few ladies. A few years back I decided I would like to sew for people again. I got my first order - a wedding dress - after that order I decided no way was I going to do that again. I finished the dress and adjusted the dress - the lady was a size 22 who brought me a size 20 pattern to work from, uh yeah.

After my divorce I had to get a job, no ifs ands or buts, I spent several months working eBay but the solitude was too much. I put out applications and took anything I could get that would pay more than eBay, and ended up working for a TPA (third party administrator for medical insurance). I answered calls for several self-insured companies and while it was fun I looked for better pay. A legal secretary job fell in my lap and since it was $1.50 more an hour I took it. With both of these jobs I was able to be home when my kids were so it worked out well.

Within the year, Home Depot came to our town and I applied. I got hired to work in the phone center making $2 more an hour. Yippee. Of course I took the job and stayed with them almost 4 years. When I met Dennis I was the scheduler (and trainer) and I transferred to the Corpus Christi HD when we moved to Texas. My HR manager in TX really let me have more responsibility and I totally loved it there, even got offered the district trainer position.

When Dennis took the job in Wisconsin, 8 months after we moved to Texas, we decided I needed to be able to stay home with the 5 teenagers we were moving around. So, that’s how I came to be back home, a wife and a mother, albeit with a dwindling nest.

For the second part of Ms Irish’s question, if I could have any career right now I would love to be a travel photographer.