Last night, unable to sleep, I started revisiting my l7th
year. I graduated from highschool shortly after my seventeenth birthday and immediately went to work at Southwestern Bell Telephone company. I moved into an apartment with my best friend and when she went off to college
moved into a bed sitting room with another friend. Our land
lady charged us 3.50 a week. I was making 26.00 a week at
the telephone company. I loathed my job but it paid more
than secretarial work. Talk about rules...there were far too many with a supervisor pacing behind you to make sure
you followed them. I was very fortunate in that I had lots of friends and my land lady, Mrs. Martin was a second mother to me. Life was good in spite of my job.


Then disaster struck. Our union went out on strike. It was
1947 and we were not allowed to simply go home and wait it out. For six weeks there was not a pay check. We walked a
picket line and ate beans at Union headquarters. I borrowed
money from my parents in order to survive and paid it all
back after the strike was over.

This was l947. My living expenses came to about fifteen
dollars a week which left me ten to spend on clothes.
Recreation was not a problem because I dated a lot.The
guys paid for everything in those days.

Mrs. Martin furnished breakfast for 25 cents and 50 cents
for Sunday dinner. She was a fabulous cook and after I
married gave me most of her recipes. I really loved her.

I look at Adrienne who is sixteen and I am so glad she won't
be independent in a year. In my small town, I was sheltered
and had people close to me that I could rely on. It just
isn't like that anymore.