My First Job at Lerner's in Downtown Providence

You had to be sixteen to be officially employed in a store in the early 60's. I took my first step in the working world at a department store in downtown Providence, R.I. I felt so grown up, dressing up, riding the bus, walking into a store that would open me up to the world of shoppers, hagglers, spenders, and fashion focused ladies.  Occasionally a gentleman would venture in, usually for a gift or on an errand for his wife. Men were always bigger spenders.  They just seem to want to buy and get out as quickly as possible.
It was a time in history when silk nylons came in square boxes, wrapped in tissue, sorted by size and color, all with unsightly seams down the back. They were attached with garter belts which had metal clips for fastening the top of the nylon. Every women who wore a pair of nylons asked the same question to her friends, "Are my seams straight?" Heaven forbid they looked like a curved highway.
I loved people and I loved selling. In fact I was somewhat of a star. There was one three fourth length checkered coat that came in and I fell in love with it. My passion translated to so many sales they they had to keep going to the back of the store  in the lay-away area and pull them out, just to keep up with me. I sometimes wonder if my long career in sales and marketing started right there in Lerner's Department Store.
I was the youngest on the staff, and quite green behind the ears. Since the older ones had in addition to their pay, a commission, they did not take kindly to my pursuit of a sale. Unlike them I was non aggressive and really wanted the customers to be happy. I think my co-workers came around and stuck to their regulars while I looked eagerly for fresh faces.
I met my first "foreigner" in the store. A lovely young girl from Columbia. She spoke little English and I was all to happy to help her. Another portent for my future of being around people from many countries and cultures. I developed a lovely friendship with her and met her family. Such nice people, like so many immigrants, starting a new life in the land of opportunity. There was opportunity every where you looked. You didn't have to "look" for a job, you just had to want one. There were signs in every window that read Help Wanted. With hard work you could start off as a worker bee and rise to the top. It was a time of great work ethics, and benevolent bosses. Corporate greed did not have it's nasty choke hold around everyone's life.
The first paycheck I received was so thrilling that I wanted to buy something special for my mom. I walked the downtown streets looking in the windows and feeling wealthy as a Rockefeller. My eyes fell on a beautiful, pink, crystal looking rosary bracelet displayed in a store window. That was the very first thing I bought with my new found wealth. I learned early the great joy of giving and my heart was singing all the way home on the bus. The gift was laid out stylishly in a delicate box and wrapped with tissue and a bow.
I ran into the house with my gift for mom. Her eyes lit up like a sky of diamonds, and her smile was like a blast of warmth from the oven of her heart. I was so elated and then looked around at all my siblings with their mouths opened and wondered how long it would take me to get through the list.