During my walk today, I found myself remembering a few of the extremely varied places I’ve worked in my time. And as I thought about it more, I decided it would be fun to try and list all the jobs I held over the years.
Considering that the very first job I ever did for pay (besides babysitting) was when I was 15, this list covers fifty years of working. Yikes! (I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few.)
- Orchard (I was 15 when I cut apricots for two or three weeks one summer)
- Educational research firm (coding questionnaires)
- Fabric store (retail clerk)
- Pizza parlor (took orders and made pizzas)
- J Paul Leonard Library at SF State University (shelved books)
- SFSU campus bookstore (shelved and stocked books)
- Dixon Landings; El Torito’s; The Cliff House; Joanne’s; The Courtyard; downtown SF espresso bar; etc. (food/cocktail waitress; bartender; barista)
- Development office at SF Conservatory of Music (data entry & administrative)
- Coordinator of volunteers (Unity Church)
- Manufacturing plant (side door attendant)
- Working for temp agencies (administrative assistant)
- Orchestras; recording studios; recitals; weddings; parties (flutist)
- Music stores, private schools, home studio (flute instructor)
- Bookbuyers used bookstore (clerk)
- Living Wisdom School in Palo Alto (school secretary; music teacher)
- Conversational English lessons (while living in Lugano)
- Development office at Ananda Village (clerical)
- Human resources at Ananda Village (assistant)
- Reiki Blessings Academy (administrative assistant)
Of course, there were years in there that I was doing music, or serving the music of Ananda in various places and ways, for very little or no compensation (otherwise known as “paying your dues”).
But it’s all good, because it all brought me to where I am now, getting paid to do the only thing I really want to do: promoting, championing, strengthening, performing, teaching, organizing, thinking about, directing, and pretty much living and breathing Ananda Music!