Log 2: Graduation
I worked throughout my high school years in an Italian restaurant called Rom’s.
I worked at the take-out counter because I was too young to waitress. My boss said I learned fast and I was the fastest girl there- I quickly moved into the head position.
Helping him opening the counter consisted of making 17 Italian grinders (yes, I said Grinders!) in record time and general stocking, ordering, helping with schedules and waiting on customers.
I graduated in 1980, the year of big hair, big cars and big parties. After graduating my closest friends all left for college- I on the other hand took the bold step of moving out of my parents’ house and into a 1 bedroom apartment in the town next to them- Southbridge, a big disappointment as I was supposed to go to Airline School.
18 years old, on my own, paying for everything was not as glamorous I thought it would be. I left Rom’s to get into a higher paying waitress job at the nearby Sheraton.
I could make ends meet- and I was happy for the most part. But in the back of my mind was always “what do I want to do with my life?” Not an easy answer as I had no college degree.
I married at 23, to a guy who worked on cars. He didn’t have a steady paycheck either, but I was in love.
It lasted 2 years, I was still waitressing- and back to being alone.
Shortly after the divorce my brother swooped in to save me- told me to pack my bags and move to Connecticut where he had a place for me to rent and a job in the restaurant he was managing. Never being one to not take chances – I jumped at the chance to start over and moved (new boyfriend in tow).
