At Work in the Grocery Store
For most of us we spend more
time at work than any other activity except sleeping. I spent 37 years as a
teacher and then school librarian. I also worked as a substitute teacher for 5
years both before and after being a regular teacher. I was a referee high
school hockey, basketball and softball for about 10 years while working at my
other jobs. But, before all that I worked four years in a grocery store working
my way through college. I wish I kept a journal all those years – so many
memories lost.
I worked at Two Guys grocery
store in Cherry Hill where I stocked shelves. Mary Matolla, an older lady, and
I were the only female stock “boys”. The guys were a variety of young and old.
I don’t remember all the names. Jack Cassidy was about my age. He was a typical
young guy of that era, long hair, drugs, former college student. He was a
pleasant guy to work with. Another one whose name I can’t remember was about
the same age and went to the Rochester Institute of Technology. Reds Gilbert(?)
worked part time at Two Guys and full time at another grocery store with my mom.
He got me the job. John Slane was the assistant manager of the stock bunch. He
was a homosexual whose adversity made him a little negative. The guys were so intolerant.
He was always nice to me and I counted him a friend. Myrtle Kennedy, Chris and
Shirley Dill were some of the cashiers. Myrtle was older and a little tough but
nice too. Chris was about my age and like Jack Cassidy was a child of the
hippie generation. Shirley was a nice person, basically happy while raising a
family and working full time. Later my mom would occasionally see her at bingo.
Earl was the produce man who lived in Westville. Minnie Rosencrantz worked in
the meat department. I grew up in an Irish Catholic town and unbelievably I didn’t
know Minnie was Jewish until after several years she was talking about a
holiday. She laughed when I told her I thought she was Italian. Mr. Hanigan was
the receiver. Mr. Pratt was the area supervisor. He was a large heavy man who
had been an Army officer and ran and treated us like we were his soldiers. Eugene
Salzgruber worked in the department store side. I dated him a few times and was
on a company bowling team with him. He was a big happy guy. I think he
eventually married an older woman with children and died somewhat young. My job was mainly the “candy aisle”. It ran
the entire length of the row, quite long. I’ve never seen that much in any
other store. Also, there would be displays on the endcaps. I also stocked other
things as needed. The worst was the sugar. The pallet weighed 1 ton or more and
you would have pull it out with a manual hand truck that had the forks of a
forklift truck. The aisles were wide enough that the pallet could be pulled
down it. Occasionally I was puzzled when a customer would call you boy when my
hair was to my waist and I wore a pink smock. OK, the guys at that time had
long hair. I hated the beginning of the month when food stamps came out and I
would have to jump on the register. No scanners in those day and items would be
marked like 3 for 59 cents and you would have to figure out how much the one
can they bought cost. That way if they bought just one the price would be a
penny more. Registers didn’t calculate change.
I worked there for 4 years. At
the time I didn’t always think it was the best job but looking back it was a
good job. The pay was good. I graduated from college not owing a dime. It was an
introduction to the working world and working with a variety of people.
Sometimes I think I should have kept that job a little part time one after
becoming a teacher. Teaching paid less than being a grocery clerk and would
have been a supplement.
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