January 24, 1965
No church today - we got 10 to 11 inches of snow, with sleet on top. The Ws stopped in for punch and cookies after they helped us clear our walk. I've decided to sew a dress for M or K. I'd love to sew for younger children. I studied History until 12:00 - which it is now, so, if you will not mind, I'll retire.
January 24, 2006
I have no idea who the Ws were. That chunk of memory has completely vanished. I do recall being hired to do some sewing for various neighbors. It didn't pay particularly well, though it was fun. Babysitting was my main source of income, since we lived about a mile from town and relied on one car, which my father drove to and from work. Most of my babysitting income was used to buy fabric, 45 RPMs and Christmas presents.
January 24, 2023
Did you ever think of turning your favorite hobby into your dream job? I have always loved making things, and tried several times to monetize my passion. It never worked.
When I was six or seven, I really enjoyed polishing shoes. I hauled a shoebox full of polish and brushes out to the sidewalk in front of my house and set up shop. Several hours and one customer later, I had a nickel.
Middle school: I learned to crochet and made a hat for myself. A friend asked me to make one for her and said she would pay me. She paid me the cost of the yarn plus a quarter.
High school: Besides the two W sisters, I sewed maternity clothes for a neighbor. They supplied the pattern and fabric, I got a couple of bucks.
College: Various minimum wage jobs as a sign printer, costume shop stitchkin.
STILL NOT LEARNING MY LESSON!!
After College: Doing piecework for a touristy “general store” selling “locally made” calico aprons. I was paid $5 each; they sold for $40. It took me a week of 8-10 hour days to make ten aprons.
Graduate school: Summer job as the crafts counselor at the Rhode Island Association for the Blind. Thought this was my “dream job”. It was not.
My entire professorial life: Crafting for fun, I turned to writing and wrote and wrote and wrote. It earned me tenure, promotion, and a good enough salary to support my family and buy a fixer-upper. I wrote two academic books that together have earned between $1000 and $1500 in about ten years.
So now I am retired, and doing what I love for free. Knitting, poetry, these short posts. Grateful for the Social Security and pension that allow me to fill my time this way. Once a year, I get a table at our local craft bazaar and sell my hats, scarves, and mitts at cost so I can get more yarn. I write things and and people enjoy reading them. Finally, my dream job!
Who knows?