I graduated in June, 1938, the depression was still on and jobs were very scarce. I had to have some money if I planned to enter nursing training so I went job hunting. I had applied at Philadelphia General (where my cousin had dropped out before she had finished) and City Hospital in Akron. The Monday after graduation I answered one of the few ads in the newspaper's "help wanted" column. It was for housework and child care. The woman told me she had had 60 calls when she interviewed me. I got the job: six days a week from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M. The pay was $5 a week plus board and room. The Nelsons lived in a nice section of Akron, the west end area. She was a teacher and he was a commercial artist at the Firestone Rubber Co.
She was a very definite, precise and strict but fair person and I learned a lot from her. She made out a work schedule for me, showed me how she wanted everything done, from dusting furniture to washing clothes. I did all the cooking and again, she taught me how she wanted everything cooked, and again I am grateful to her. The children were Paul, 5, and Karen, 4. Darling children and I soon learned to love them and think that they became fond of me. The schedule was rigid for an 18-year old but I often think that it helped strengthen so that I could survive the rigorous three years of nurse training.
Mondays I washed clothes and hung them out to dry when possible - no driers in those days. Then I made the beds, did the dishes, cared for the children, got dinner, did dishes, dampened clothes and, unless they were going out, was free at 8 or 9 P.M. I was usually so tired that I went to my room, read a while and went to bed early. On Tuesdays I ironed, and what an ironing: 7 or 8 shirts, children's clothes, my dresses, her blouses, pillow cases, tablecloths, even sheets. Wednesdays I cleaned the upstairs well, changed all the beds, etc. Thursday mornings I would have to polish the silverware, wash windows, clean drawers, or what have you. I was off after lunch on Fridays. I cleaned the downstairs well. Saturdays were always very busy; they would often entertain or go out. They were big football fans and often had game afternoon parties where everyone listened to the game on radio. I helped make the first round of drinks, then begin preparing for the big dinner, usually making a cake or some other dessert. I also made and served snacks for guests during the game. I rather enjoyed my year and three months at the Nelsons and was able to see another slice of life.
I think Mr. Nelson gave me my first anti-racist thought. He once said something about poor Jews and I asked the usual biased question: "Aren't all Jews rich?" I gave as an example that all the big department stores and big corporations were owned by Jews. He listened to me and then very unemotionally but sincerely talked to me about making a general statement and then fitting into it a group of people you thought belonged there. He noted that there were many working class Jews and poor Jews, added that no one color or culture were all rich or poor. After this discussion I started to think about how conclusions were reached, often based on ignorance. This lesson helped me all my life in analyzing myths in the search for facts and truths.
There were some things I didn't like about the job: having to do oodles of dishes the morning after my afternoon off, having to put clothes to soak Sunday evenings, no matter how late I came in, having the humiliation of sitting in the kitchen by myself and serving others in the dining room. This made me feel inferior. This was my own concept because the Nelsons were very kind and fair with me. I insisted that the kids never refer to me as the maid but as the girl. When Mrs. Nelson offered to buy me uniforms I threatened to quit and instead bought myself a couple of house dresses and wore them.
In the spring of 1939 my application at City Hospital of Akron was approved; then I had to take intelligence and aptitude tests. Squint's aunt was a head nurse at the hospital and she found out that my IQ test score was 115, just average, I guess. I had to take my first physical exam and went to a friend of my Dad's. He asked if I really wanted to be a nurse as it was a hard life and a hospital was the worst place in the world for gossip! was accepted for the fall class. A friend of my parents was entering the same class so we were invited to her home so I could meet her. Thus Jane Grismer and became the best of friends. Almost 50 years later we still correspond , although I have not seen her more than one time in the past 40 years.
Kathleen Jones and I went to grade and high school together, and we met again the first day of training, and were roommates. After three years of training we had an apartment together, then went into military service, she to the army, I to Air Corps. We still corresponded at Xmas and I see her whenever I return to Akron.
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