Full Time Mom & Full Time Work

Dickwas not supporting us, so I went to work as an apprentice hairdresser in my mom's beauty salon. After working for a few years, I decided to get a job selling cars so I could support the kids better. It was a good thing that torn and frayed jeans were in because the kids only had two pairs each, and they were naturally worn. I was the only woman in the Milwaukee area selling cars. The males try to make things difficult for me. I hung in there and proved I was their equal. I sold lots of cars and worked long hours nights and weekends. After a few years, I was approached by an acquaintance who knew of an interesting job with a paper distributor, calling on art studios and designers promoting high-end printing paper. It was while I was working at Nackie Paper when my beloved grandmother passed. She had been my mother figure and mentor for most of my life. I feel she was the person who taught me how to endure whatever life throws at me. She had survived poverty, the death of children, wars of which two sons served, and the loss of her husband. She worked hard until the day she died. She was all about giving. After her husband George died, she stayed and worked with the hired help until she was in her late 70s. After she moved to Milwaukee with my Aunt Irma, she cleaned, cooked, and gardened until she became ill in her late 90s.

In the late 70s and 80s, I was working for a paper company and then went to sell for a large printing company because I was not getting any help supporting the kids. I also worked nights and weekends tending bar at a small neighborhood bar. We had lots of clients from Miller Brewing and Milwaukee policemen. I made really good tips. I only worked a few hours so I would get home to spend time with the kids before bed. This is not the dream I had of being a perfect mother. I was doing what I had to do to support the kids. In 1984 I met Bert, where I was then tending bar at the Red Mill, a very busy supper club. He was going through a divorce. We started to date and were married in 1989. He was in the business of selling swimming pools and hot tubs. He sold the business in 1988, and together we purchased a restaurant in New Berlin. We had funds from the sale of his business, and I sold my house in Brookfield. Rick was the last one home and was leaving for Colorado to go to school.