Yep—I bet you didn’t know that I have a famous connection. Well, kind of sort of. On the Today Show this morning they highlighted Matt’s first job as a newspaper deliverer. Guess what? That was MY first job too! And a pretty fun one when I think back on it! I delivered The Sandusky Register when I was in grade school at North Fairfield. I am not really sure what years I did it but I lived there from 3rd grade through 7th grade so that gives you an idea. I loved it. My brothers (and maybe my sister—I am a little fuzzy on whether she delivered too but I am sure she will let me know!) delivered papers and it was a great way to learn some life skills and of course—-get a little spending money. I am pretty sure most of my spending money went on junk food or some frivolous things that I “thought” that I needed. I am sure that none of it lasted.
My memories of the paper route in this small town included the daily stop at the public library—a teeny tiny little place with basically two rooms and a sweet librarian by the name of Mrs. Chandler who took an awkward little girl under her wing and spoiled her rotten. I loved stopping there every day. It helped fuel my reading appetite. I have a love of books today mainly due to Mrs. Chandler though my parents got me off on the right foot—she just helped it along. She liked to read “hysterical novels” as she called them and she was always telling me about the latest books she was reading and picked out ones for me that I might like. And then there was “the drawer”. Oh…the infamous bottom left drawer on her desk where she kept treats just for me. I know my mom was not thrilled with that part of my library visit but oh did Mrs. Chandler spoil me…..whether it was a bag of chips or a candy bar –Mrs. Chandler had it for me. And to this day I can still hear her saying “Honey, take that home with you or it will go bad.” I can also attribute my love of junk food to Mrs. Chandler, I guess!!!
But back to the paper route—I don’t remember any snarling dogs (except for my friend Sherri’s chihuahua named Peaches) or mean people but I do remember walking and walking and walking every day. A lot of walking. And perhaps my most vivid memory was weather related. One day when I was delivering a storm came up really fast complete with hail. I had on a dress and just remember that hail hitting my bare legs time and time again…I hung out on a porch for awhile till it stopped but I was pretty drenched and pock marked by then!! I think my mom or dad came driving to find us kids but that part is pretty much a blur—I just remember the pain of the hail!!!
Matt commented that it is a different world today with papers being delivered mainly in the early hours by adults in cars and he is right. I don’t know that I would want my kids going door to door these days—-even though you hope your neighborhood is safe there are still a lot of creeps out there. But I for one am very glad that I had the opportunity to be be a papergirl! It helped me in more ways than I probably know!
What was YOUR first job? Would love to hear!
allDAY – TODAY’s First Jobs: Matt Lauer goes back to his ‘route’.
7 Comments
Leave a commentFunny, I was just telling Sheila this week that I used to have a paper route, that I walked, through sun and rain and sleet and snow and… you get the picture. I don’t know that I thought of it very romantically but at least it was money, in a place where there was not much opportunity to earn such.
See i “thought” you were the first but I honestly did not remember ! I figured all 4 of us did it but it is kind of a blur. Once again we had a twin moment since you had talked to Sheila about it…..
You delivered to the Rendlens (not sure about the spelling). I remember, because I had to visit them one time since they were way arrears on their payment. For some reason the paid me right up (I was pretty pissed that they were dissing my sister, but I certainly was not a very imposing person, being only two years older than you, and skinny). The reason I mention them, is, that their dog bit me on the butt as I was riding by, one day (I don’t think they were a customer, at that point). My good friend Sam Back’s father, who was the town deputy, and lived just across the street, saw the it happen. He came out of his house, strapping on his leather (meaning his gun belt). Mrs Rendlen went berserk, thinking he was going to shoot the dog. I actually had to go to court a month or so later because of the incident. Luckily, Father accompanied me. Mrs. Rendlen demanded to see the bite marks on my butt (which had disappeared by that time). Mayor Zeiter saw my embarrassment about exposing my butt, and quickly nixed that particular activity… So, there was a biting dog on your paper route, but it didn’t bite you, it bit me.
Interestingly, Mrs. Rendlen had an interaction with Father, later on. He was conducting a service at Reverend Hawkin’s Babtist church, and tried to pick up the pace on a hymn. She went off on him…
My biggest problem with dogs on my paper route wasn’t a dog. It was a goose! It was the Phillips’s farm, my furthest north delivery. That goose was a terror! It got me a couple of times, and its bite was mighty painful. We had a very uneasy relationship…
You saved me from a dog????? I kind of remember that incident—I remember you were trying to collect but I didn’t remember who it was from! Now it is slowly slowly coming back to me!!! Wow—you looked out for me even way back then, didn’t you??? I guess that is what brothers do for their little sisters!!! I am so glad you are mine!!!
You delivered to the Rendlens (not sure about the spelling). I remember, because I had to visit them one time since they were way arrears on their payment. For some reason the paid me right up (I was pretty pissed that they were dissing my sister, but I certainly was not a very imposing person, being only two years older than you, and skinny). The reason I mention them, is, that their dog bit me on the butt as I was riding by, one day (I don’t think they were a customer, at that point). My good friend Sam Back’s father, who was the town deputy, and lived just across the street, saw it happen. He came out of his house, strapping on his leather (meaning his gun belt). Mrs Rendlen went berserk, thinking he was going to shoot the dog. I actually had to go to court a month or so later because of the incident. Luckily, Father accompanied me. Mrs. Rendlen demanded to see the bite marks on my butt (which had disappeared by that time). Mayor Zeiter saw my embarrassment about exposing my butt, and quickly nixed that particular activity… So, there was a biting dog on your paper route, but it didn’t bite you, it bit me.
Interestingly, Mrs. Rendlen had an interaction with Father, later on. He was conducting a service at Reverend Hawkin’s Baptist church, and tried to pick up the pace on a hymn. She went off on him…
My biggest problem with dogs on my paper route wasn’t a dog. It was a goose! It was the Phillips’s farm, my furthest north delivery. That goose was a terror! It got me a couple of times, and its bite was mighty painful. We had a very uneasy relationship…
Sorry about the double post. For some reason I submitted the first one before I had checked it for grammar.
To clarify, I think I was the first one to get a paper route. I took over Bill McPherson’s route for the Sandusky Register. I’m pretty sure that Chris started delivering the Lorain Journal later, but I guess he could have been first, that memory is lost in the fog of time. I helped him on his route for the Sunday deliveries (the Sandusky Register did not have a weekend paper), but I’m pretty sure that both you and Paula helped out on my route. I’m sure that Beth was my delivery person, but I really think that Paula was, as well.
Paula concurs that she delivered too. I could not really remember that—-I did at least remember that I delivered The Sandusky Register!