Sunday, September 19, 2004
Who worked and Who didn't
Well John and Anita it seems we're the only ones that didn't work. My what poor memories some of these old folks have. Yes I also spent some time in the fields hoeing beans at the rate of 25 cents an our for Chris Jorgensen. I also made big bucks working for Carl Sieber loading loose hay on top the horse drawn wagon while Dad and Carl pitched the shocks. Then driving the horse to pull the Jackson fork from the load into the barn. Three days work could earn you as much as lunch each day, the worst water I ever drank, and when Carl felt generous, two dollars for the three days work. A buck an hour didn't come until much later. And, you are right, Beel, no deductions. Can't ever remember asking Dad for movie money. That came out of our earnings after we bought our Saddle Pants and a shirt or two at Montgomery Wards down on 10th Street near the Strand Theater. (Levis were hard to find in those days unless you could get old Joe Berg down on ninth street to go into the back room and find your size)
Yeah, there were some interesting people at Fairview as Beel has mentioned. Nobody has mentioned Mudhen or big Bud Miller. Richard Stafford was the guitar player, only it wasn't always a broom. He could get a tune out of any piece of wood that was lying around. It helped if it had a bent nail in one end so he could tune it occasionally. His favorite tune was "Get along little doggie."
"Gange de docht" was also the term Dad used when on Sunday afternoon we would ask him if we could ride the horses. His usual comment was "No, Barney and Bell have to work tomorrow." After much pestering it was, "gange de docht."
Beel, sorry to get into your story telling territory, but felt some corrections needed to be made. Just didn't want the young folks thinking you and Pius were the only ones earning their keep. We were all involved and worked. One thing that Mom and Dad taught us was the value of work. I will always appreciate that.
'GANGE DE DOCHT"
LAS reporting from 1117 Petersburg Way
