While I was in high school, I had cash paying jobs such as babysitting and cleaning houses. However, in 1976, I started my first real job, and I received my first paycheck, with a paystub and deductions. I was so excited to have a “real” job. I was a snack bar attendant at Polar Palace Ice Rink located in La Habra California.
My job consisted of working behind the snack bar, selling
popcorn, hamburgers, candy and other unhealthy snacks to the customers. I also had to clean the grill, empty out the
old grease for French fries and other fried food, clean the floors, clean the
counter, and so on. This job did come nice perks, such as getting to ice skate
for free anytime they were open and I was not on duty. My co-workers and I also
played broom hockey after hours.
I worked part time making a mere $2.50 an hour, which was
minimum wage at the time. Of course,
there was always someone who wanted the day off, and would call in sick, so I
would be asked to fill in, which I did. If I was not going to school or going
to the beach with friends, I was working.
I enjoyed watching the skaters during general admission. The
young boys would take hockey lessons, while the young girls would take figure
skating lessons. The boys were rough and tough, while the girls spun around in
their glittery outfits. All the girls had a “Dorothy Hamill” hairstyle. Dorothy
Hamill was a famous skater in the 70’s and all the girls wanted to be like her.
When I first started the job either my mom or dad would
drive me to work. Eventually my dad bought a second car, a used white four door
Ford. The car was for my mom, but she would let me borrow it so I could get to
work. Later, my parents co-signed on a car loan which they found at Avis Car
Rental in Anaheim California.
My parents were out looking for shoes for my dad, not even
looking for a car, but spotted saw the for-sale sign and thought it would be a
good car for me. My first car was a tan 1975 Malibu Classic. I was proud of that car and my friend said we
need to drive to Malibu Beach. She said “Sandy B. needs to drive her Malibu to
“sandy” Malibu Beach. We never did make that trip, but it was fun dreaming
about it.
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