In sixth grade it was a treat for a group of us to go downstairs at the Corner Drug on a Saturday afternoon and order chocolate sodas.
MJ was the waitress and I thought she was divine. I also believed as she wore that apron and carried that order pad proudly that she had a dream job. I admired other older girls that worked at the S&R, The Boat, or The Miner’s Hat Drive-Ins.
Working at a drive-in seemed like a perfect job. Everybody hung out there. If I worked at the Humdinger I could listen to the music of
KJRB playing from a
GTO radio parked close to the order window. I could also whip up root beer milkshakes, soft ice cream cones, or a 50 cent banana split.
I applied to work at the Humdinger the summer of 1972. It would be my first job.
JK handled soft ice cream cones and other waitress tasks with ease. SD was talking about applying for employment there also. I imagined myself taking orders on the green notepad with a pencil behind my ear. I could visualize the milkshake machine purring as I ran it with an air of importance. I would wrap hot, delicious hamburgers hot off the grill in a square of wax paper to hold in the pickles, onions, and sliced tomatoes.
The owner called me and said he wanted to “try me out”. He sent me home with the menu asking me to memorize the items and prices and come in the next day. CM called me the morning of my first day of work. He wanted to go out to the lake. Would I like to join him? I knew I was a quick study. I took my employment homework on the short trip to the lake.
I had to be at the Humdinger by 3:00. The sail boating adventure was fun, but led to a bad sunburn and lack of quality time to do my homework. I arrived to work on time, but it was a disaster. Taking orders and remembering prices was hard. I never realized how challenging it was to make milkshakes, wrap burgers, form strawberry dip cones, figure out change, and smile while suffering from a sunburn and lack of menu knowledge.
JK was the queen of
waitressing. I flunked my trial run. SD would definitely do better. The owner told me he
didn’t need me any more. I went home discouraged.
Mom gave me the “ I told you not to go out to the lake, but stay home and learn those prices” lecture. Dad said I was a “bull in a china closet” and reminded me “I
couldn’t walk, take orders, and chew gum at the same time”. SD got a job and was able to enjoy the finer things in life as a waitress; listening to “ Lean on Me” from a car radio in the parking lot while taking orders, making soft ice cream cones, giving change, and smiling at the order window with
JK. My first job was going to be my dream job, but turned out being my worst job.
The Humdinger still serves burgers, cones, and shakes in Kellogg in the same location.
I was amazed today when I noticed this is blog post #300. Fortunately there are more pictures to take and stories to tell. Thanks to all my blog readers for the comments and continued support.
You can enjoy other Sunday Scribblings about jobs here.
Because of the work I do for my school district with the federal Title I program trips to the ESD office in Spokane are needed every few months. It was a glorious morning as I captured the early morning sky from our yard as I prepared to depart.
Leaving Spokane on Highway 2 at the end of the day we were caught in a rainstorm. Heading west to join Highway 395 south of Deer Park the weather changed and it was clear enough to see this beautiful beginning of a sunset. 
I was sure we would enjoy this sky as we continued to travel toward home.
The sunset soon moved behind the trees .
Heading north the blue sky remained, but the gray skies and rain clouds were ahead. When you live in the Inland Empire you aren't surprised to go through three or four weather patterns in a short distance of driving. That is one of the many things I appreciate about living here. Another is the October sky.
Certain colors prevail in the garden during different times of the year. One week I can drive down the driveway and all I see blooming is pink. In early spring the garden speaks green. A few weeks ago yellow was the predominant color.
This week the color I am noticing is orange. Orange is a color that says autumn. Of course pumpkins come to mind immediately. I love trees that have leaves that turn orange. Then there is Virginia Creeper, assorted mums, and gourds ready to be harvested. 
When orange emerges in the garden it is vivid, bold, and showy. It mixes with yellow, red, and brown to create a blended tapestry that says October.
I am glad I caught splashes of orange as I toured the garden recently. I hope the orange hangs on for a few more weeks. Amazingly, we still have not have a frost. When a frost hits colors will change again.
Isn't it amazing how you can be at the right place at the right time with a camera? Priceless. 
Another topic I learned about in my landscaping classes was how to create interest in the garden. This can mean adding varieties of plants that provide food for birds. It also means adding shrubs with colored branches, finding plants with bright colored berries, or leaving leaves and rose hips on after the fall freeze.
The plant above is an Oak Leaf Mountain Ash which has leaves that are shaped beautifully and turn yellow in the fall, and have an added bonus of bright berries for interest and food for birds.
The cotoneaster plant is a keeper for any garden. It grows quickly, has berries that draw birds and adds color, and it grows with little water or care! Now that is my kind of plant. You can divide them, propagate them, and even start them from the seeds in the berries if you are patient.
Holly is always a popular plant in a bed because it does stay green in the winter causing the berries to stand out, plus it is there under the snow waiting to be harvested for holiday decor.
Sweet William added garden interest by showing up on the fence during the photo tour.
