Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 27, 2026
The First of Everything
I had given thought to writing about the “what was” of a youth baseball glove and garage golf clubs. However, Sunday readers enjoyed a recent Sunday Fiction, so I offer a second story for your enjoyment as we learn and share the challenges and joys of daily life.
Ellie burst through the kitchen door with noise, excitement, and shouts. “Mom…mother, where are you? I can’t wait to tell you, my news.” Carol Ann left the bed unmade to find a daughter bubbling over with the tears of joy.
“Nine months ago, I got my first job with Global Market. You have met Dennis, the Deli Supervisor, right mom? Well, here is the news! Dennis is moving to the Global Market in Austin to be nearer to his father. Mom, guess who was named the new Deli Supervisor? Me, Your daughter!”
“Well, not a full supervisor yet. There are eight of us working the Deli. Vera, she is in Personnel person, told me she likes my energy and how I talk with shoppers. My try out is for thirty days. I have to learn what to order and when, so everything is fresh. Plus, I have to know how to schedule so all the shifts are covered. Dennis said he would help me figure it all out before he leaves. He told me he believes in me. ‘You can do this! he said.”
“My first job and already my first promotion and guess what mother? A raise mother, a raise. I didn’t even have to ask. Can we go to Three Oaks in the morning? My shift is not until eleven. Sorry mom, I hope you would want to go with me to tell dad.”
Carol Ann didn’t know what to say to all the gushing out of this never before news. So, she raised her arms like a referee signaling a touchdown, letting out a loud celebrative, ‘YES.’ “
“And there is more mother. I am so excited. Vera, my new boss, told me I would help with interviewing and recommend my own replacement. Me, your daughter, know nothing, no experience daughter.” Ellie now dancing around her mother, repeating her mother’s words, “Yes, Yes, Yes.”
“Dad, I hope you hear me. I mean, I know you are not really there, in that box. I bet you are watching mother and me from that bench, or walking your morning walk, just like always. Dad, you always said,” ‘I was good at talking, even to strangers.’ “Dad, I am going to be a supervisor. You always told me I had a bright future. College wasn’t right for me, at least right mow. Global Market likes me dad…Me. your youngest. I know I will never be Jessica, grad school and all. By now, I am going somewhere dad I have always wanted to make you proud. You are proud, right dad?”
Ellie polished her Global Market name badge before beginning her first day as Deli Supervisor. Proudly smiling from ear to ear,
Global markets newest and happiest supervisor gave a wave to Janie, Flower Department Supervisor and Maria, Fresh Foods Supervisor. Ellie was home. She belonged…a new beginning.
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Sunday Questions:
Remember your first job? Excitement like Ellie? Who did you first tell? Who did you most want to share the news with?
Ellis has received her first promotion. I remember my first “Director” position. Like Ellie, there was a sense of I belonged.
Who have you helped to have their first job? Their first or next promotion.\?
The next time you are at the market look for Ellie or Jacob. Give each your best, supportive smile or wave, as someone did for you in your own First Of Everything.
Roy, amazed at all
My first real job was my teaching position in the FWISD. I had had other odd jobs in high school and college but nothing that excited me. The first person I told was my cooperating teacher Frances Cox. I had student taught with her at South HillsElementary and I wanted to be just like her. She was instrumental in my being hired. My husband was in Viet Nam at the time so I couldn’t share with him and my Mother lived in Illinois and talking long distance was costly. Frances was thrilled and we celebrated at Baskin Robbin’s. Little did I know that teaching would be my lifetime career. I had 15 student teachers over the years and all but one became a reachers, and I was one of their first calls when they got a job.
WOW! Maurine that’s a great story too. What a swirls of thoughts and feelings I experienced as I thought about a young independent woman in the 1960s starting a career with the people deepest in her heart so far away. Thank you for sharing.
Roy, I reached back all the way to the first time a non-family member offered to pay me for a multi-day project. The man bought an overgrown lot with a little frame house that would become a rental property for him. While he was working on his house I was to use a “Yo-Yo” brand sickle to cut down and take up the 2 foot tall grass and weeds so it could be mowed with a push mower. I learned 3 things: 1. The hope of $10 is not enough motivation to get you through a difficult job. 2. The sense of being considered worthy of the opportunity helps a young person’s desire to work. 3. Earning a reputation for finishing a job well is powerful motivation to work again.
My first job after receiving a college degree? I was drafted into the US Army and trained to be an Infantry Mortar Platoon Sergeant in Vietnam. Again back to training to learn the necessary skills. A new way of living and a new way of learning. The training was to prepare for the combat of war with the skills and determination to return home with everyone mentality and physically intact. There was both a physical and mental preparation with the challenge to indure. There was the struggle mentally and physically to be constantly being aware of making the correct life saving decisions to ensure to that we all safely returned home to continue our lives. We all were changed as we were challenged with holding on to Peace, Love, and Healing.
A good retelling of real time, real life experience…..
we all somehow got through our first of everythinh…..