Got my first job thanks to a shoe cobbler way back when. Had a pair of wing tips that refused to die, I wanted penny loafers except I was going to put dimes in mine.
Dad took me to a cobbler instead who proceeded to put soles twice as thick as the originals on the wing tips. I pitched a bitch and Dad marched me around behind the shop to the cement block building where the newsboys picked up their papers. Swore I was 13 to the station manager since I looked a bit small- I was 11.
I bought a rural paper route that was availabe on the spot, a wooden Detroit News wagon, a pair of saddle bags and a shoulder bag and my first weeks worth of papers with $65 loaned to me by Dad.
Started the route 10 minutes later pulling the wagon in my re-cobbled wingtips, 1st customers house was 3 miles away, fortunately in the direction of home by route end. Paid Dad back within the 1st month and bought 2 additional routes that overlapped the original- Free Press in the mornings, the original Detroit News in the afternoon and the Plymouth/Northville Observer on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Never looked back and for the most part never unemployed through several career changes for more than a few weeks until retirement nearly 2 years ago - no matter what it was I had to do. Got my penny loafers and a lesson that served me well throughout life- Thanks Dad !
Its amazing what you can get at the cobblers, hope they are still around as I've not seen one in nearly 20 years.
