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Thursday, November 6, 2014

Confidence


I just set aside a small treatise about purpose, finding it, losing it, having it, the usual stuff. Too stuffy. Instead, here’s a story about confidence.

Emily worked a year ago at Heritage Farm, riding herd on little children during pumpkin season, selling trees through the holidays, hoisting them atop cars, tying them closely and firmly with the knots she was taught. Emily would have started up again in the spring, except for that bit of hazing, when she was put bodily through the tree bailer as a mark of being an awesome employee, and she lost her job when the owner did not agree with grandma that no child should be handled by adults and other children.

The summer yielded sporadic part time jobs; her big hope of a job at the nursery across the street did not happen for the simple reason she had too many other commitments that cut into prime selling hours at a nursery. Then school began and we were back in the cycle of band and football two or three times a week; I forgot about jobs.

The fire district report at the last township meeting included mention the district was negotiating the annual contract with the ski resort, and I wrote a note on my hand—ski resort. Back at home I told Emily she might want to check Boston Mills/Brandywine on the internet and see about jobs.

Last Saturday saw us at the job fair. Well, I dropped Emily and went on errands. I picked a choice parking place on returning, and watched a lot of people trail into the resort, empty handed, or with their downloadable application fluttering. Almost everyone who came out had a sheaf of papers that included a pink slip.

Emily’s pink slip was for an appointment for a second interview. Once again I sat in the parking lot, watching pink slips fluttering in. Only one pink slip returned, and it wasn't Emily’s. Her big smile announced she has a job when the season opens. She asked for and got Boston Mills, the closer of the two ski runs, and first shift Saturdays and Sundays. She is assigned to ski lifts because “I like people, I like winter, I like being outdoors.” The sixty percent pay raise, from what farms can get away with to minimum wage went down well, too.

She’s only fifteen, so she had a work permit authorized at school today. Uncle Tom outfitted her in a capacious Carhartt from his extensive collection; she still has sturdy work boots I got her for the farm, the silk and wool emergency hat I knitted in the midst of tree season last winter, and the insulated gloves. I need to get a couple pair of wool socks made, though.

The chauffeur is grateful for a good car heater.




29 comments:

  1. Those lift line workers have a lot of power, especially when it is crowded.

    Should be fun...and cold.

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  2. Emily is a terrific kid because she has a terrific, encouraging, "I'll be there for you", no nonsense grandmother. Congratulations to you both.

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  3. OK, Emily, now is your time to be making some $$$. No baler at the Ski Lift so hope you remember what your values are and do a good job. Glad to see this news.

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  4. Congratulations to Emily - and to you. And I love that she now has a better, bailer free job. Extra pay is another win.

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  5. Congratulations to Emily. I remember the tree bailer incident. You were right to be unhappy.

    Love,
    Janie

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  6. What an amazing personality and package your Emily is. My girl is 14, doesn't like to talk, hasn't had a job beyond babysitting, but she, too, is amazing. I'm actually excited for when she gets a "real" job sometime here--because jobs do that thing where they push our development to the next level.

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  7. Good for her getting the job! I hope it is a successful season for her!

    betty

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  8. They put her through the baler, ugh, could be dangerous I think. That photo of her is not now is it? Great fun ahead in her new job but yes cold. My first job was at 16 at Kentucky Fried chicken and I've never had any since. Ha.

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  9. Operating a ski lift sounds like fun. Does she get to actually run the machine or is she assigned to ensuring occupants are safely buckled in etc? Either way it's a great job. The pay rise isn't to be sneezed at either.

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  10. This is an inspiring story. It is very hard for young people to find paid work these days. My daughter had to put up with a lot of unpaid and low paid work when she was in her teens. She is finally getting decent pay and ironically finds it easy to get jobs mainly because her earlier cv is packed with a good variety of work....even though the pay was poor. At least people can see she is a grafter. I think your granddaughter will find the same thing.

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  11. Hari Om
    Well done Emily!!! Now Grandma is likely to have some interesting tales to pass on to us, though hopefully rather more positive ones than last year's! All the best for travelling to and for... YAM xx

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  12. Very well done Emily and Grandma.... and no balers!

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  13. And I am willing to bet that the grandma is awfully proud of Emily's work ethic too....

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  14. Wonderful early picture of Emily. She looks ready to set off and discover the world, and now she's at the beginning of just that.

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  15. She is learning a good strong work ethic. Good job grandma.

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  16. Congrats to your granddaughter. She must be so pleased.

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  17. Good for Emily knowing what she wants and going for it!

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  18. Congratulations to your Granddaughter!

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  19. Aw, what a sweet photo of Emily. She sounds like such a go getter. Congratulations to her for getting a new job!

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  20. Joanne, I remember you mentioning that time when Emily was hoisted through the tree baler and was horrified. You were very right to intervene. So pleased that she has been able to get a job at the ski runs. Hope it's much better than the tree farm one. She deserves a great job,she's a great girl.

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  21. Well done Emily. Good luck with the new job. No doubt we shall hear about how you get on - I hope so.

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  22. Excellent!!! My goodness, Emily the little girl is still very evident in Emily the young woman, in her features, is she not? Some children change so much as they get older, but she has not. That is not a bad thing, by the way. She has lovely eyes and smile.

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  23. That's great news. People - including kids - should get want they want and need.

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  24. Go forth Emily. What great news, quite a gal.

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  25. Well done, and I'll guess she can handle the job given her background. Kudos to grandma for telling off the hazers.

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  26. Good news...and no hazing. Whatever were the owners of the tree nursery thinking of...the mind boggles.

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  27. I enjoy reading that Emily got the job she liked - and confidence is a very valuable gift one can give to one's children and grandchildren. Well done, Joanne!

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  28. congrats to Emily. You should be proud of yourself Grandma for doing what had to be done to give those kids the best opportunities for their future. I'm proud of you.

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