My first job

We all pass through milestones in our lives. Many change the direction of our lives for better or worse. You will remember the day you married; the birth of your first child; the death of a parent. All are important days in our lives.
For children, a big event is their first day at school. On that day, parents realize that their youngster is growing up. And on their graduation from high school it is the sudden realization that their child is moving on into the bigger world.
But there are also other great memories that mark our lives. Our first love affair; our first vehicle, and our first job are all memorable marks in our lives. Often that first job helps us to understand what we like and are what we are good at. It teaches us the skills that we will need for future jobs. It even helps us to understand the jobs that we don’t like.
During the month of October a week is set aside to recognize newspaper carriers around the world. October 13 is International Newspaper Carrier Day.
I still remember the day I began delivering newspapers. It was January 23, 1962. I had dreamed of being a carrier for years. And my parents kept putting me off until they though I was old enough. It was a huge day. Forty years ago you would receive the Bulletin 5 days a week and the Times on Thursday.
The route began at the Fort Frances Bakery on Central Avenue, and went on both sides of First Street and the avenues between First and Second all the way to the arena. My brother and I shared the route. He delivered to all the homes on the south side of First and I delivered the homes on the north side of the street and the avenues.
We learned a lot about business. We learned that you had to have the paper delivered on time and that meant by 5:30 at night. School didn’t let out until 4 o-clock and we had to go from the Robert Moore to the Times which then was located where the Customs building is today. Our paper route had over 130 customers.
It was a black eye to end up with a complaint because every carrier would know that you had made a mistake and you would be teased. There was lots of competition between the carriers.
We learned that you had to collect from all your customers and sometimes that meant that you collected from people where they worked which took you out of your way.
We learned that the best time for collecting was right at the supper hour between five and six because everyone was home then and you would only have to make a single call. We learned about respect and kindness from our customers. They too watched out for us.
We delivered papers in the rain, the cold, in snow storms and in hot humid weather.
My brother and I collected every week from our customers. We were invited into their homes.
Today when I walk down first street, I remember many of those customers who I delivered papers to. They are good memories. It was a good first job.

–Jim Cumming,
Publisher