Robert Burkett

 THE REST OF HIGH SCHOOL

You know, as we age time is logged differently in our minds. What seems like yesterday is many years ago and what seems like yesterday was an hour ago. So, if I mix up dates a little I am going to chalk it up to old age!

I wrote previously about ways I tried to earn money. Well, high school didn't come with fame or fortune so I kept trying to find a way to earn spending money, even with a very busy schedule at school. One job that was a disaster was a night job. Somewhere along the way there opened a drive-in movie theater close enough to our place that I could walk to work. I took a job as a mobile beverage cart operator (not sure that is how management would describe the job but it fits). My job was to go to each car and offer drinks and snacks. Management didn't take into account young bullies that would be there either legally or illegally. One evening after about a week I was attacked and robbed of drinks and what money that could be found (not much by today's standards). I reported it but management accused me of making up the story and of giving away merchandise (I guess if I had ribs broken or something I might have been believed). Anyway, after working 2 or 3 weeks I owed the drive-in $2.30 or so! Needless to say that was a short term unsuccessful employment: not a great career move (one of many).

This drive-in no longer exists, a deserving fate!!

After the debacle at the drive in I think my mother actually felt sorry for me. She and dad were friends with a couple named Francis and Gladys Harper and often travelled with them to North Carolina (no children were included). I guess when my parents needed extra money my mother worked for Gladys at a restaurant owned by the Harpers, again not terribly far from our house. My mother was the salad maker (upscale restaurant at that time). Due to my mom's relationship I was offered a job as busboy. Again, this was not a great career decision on my part. I lasted less than 1 night. You see, my job was to clear a table for the next guest and I was furnished one of those big round table looking trays thingies on which to put dishes (Can you see where this is going?).I dumped a whole load of dirty dishes on one of these upscale guests and was escorted out. Heck I told you before I only weighed about 95 pounds. The dishes were almost that heavy so I feel as if I was misused! That was my only stint in the restaurant business (Not sure about mom's position but not a big loss either way).

This is the correct building but is obviously not an upscale restaurant when this was taken. This is Dubsdread Boulevard in Winter Park.

My next opportunity came in my sophomore year. My Dad managed Lantz Electric Company in Orlando Florida and I became the second of his sons to be offered a job during the summer. His shop was off and on with the  IBEC union but the first summer i worked it was in the union so I went to school and worked for the next 2 summers. Contractors are an interesting bunch and I learned quite a bit, not all related to work. I found out the cat whistle is very common!

My job the first summer involved grunt work. Lantz had a job installing service to a new school in Orlando (not sure which it was, maybe Boone). Anyway I was supposed to applying creosote to 3 1/2 conduit (pipe to you amateurs). Why I was doing that to galvanized pipe I don't know but I was being paid almost $1/hour so why complain. It turns out this pipe is VERY heavy (100 pounds per 10 feet), so I got the bright idea of stacking it close to where the job was located. Remember this is a guy who weighs about the same as the pipe. My dad drove a Ford pickup and it was used to bring the pipe to the job. My job was to unload and put a coat of creosote to each piece. I had the "brilliant" idea of driving the truck closer so I didn't have to carry the pipe as far. (I didn't have a license, but what's the harm, right?). I backed the truck in the general direction of the job site but misjudged the distance and backed over rebar and managed to mangle the rear fender of the pickup. My dad was very forgiving and I didn't have to pay for the truck and still worked there 2 summers (at Lantz not the school). This was a great job and I learned more than I knew I would at the time. I wish my dad was still around so that I could tell him how much that meant and how much I love him; what a kind man!

My dad's work truck. Notice the fender, it never was fixed!!