Thank you Robert Hruzek from Middle Zone Musings AND to Marcus Goodyear of High Calling Blogs for the dual opportunity to participate in a writing project with you.

The topic this time has to do with the strangest job we've ever had and What I learned from an Odd Job

I was a freshman in college, oh my gosh I just realized that was the same year that the story What I learned from the Law occurred. Seemingly a lot of learning happens when one is 18.

It was spring break and my family and I were vacationing at a place we all really loved. I decided to ask if the establishment needed summer help. To the dismay of my parents they said they'd  love to have me work there! I didn't ask my parents if I could work there I sortof told them. Hey, I am working at Lazy K Bar Ranch this summer! I don't want to turn this story into one about the dynamics of my family, we won't really learn a thing there. Let's just say they didn't think too much of me and the feeling was mutual. From the perspective of being a guest at a dude ranch, it was always a pretty darn amazing place. I'd return to the dreary midwest intoxicated by the sun, the mountains and the very essence of dude-ness.

From the perspective of being an employee - well that's what this story is about.

I could hardly wait until the last day of school.  I assumed that I'd hit the dusty trail of a road trip from the midwest all the way to Arizona, armed with my larger than life teddy bear, my ziggy bed sheets and whatever other important must have with me items. I didn't expect my mother to insist on coming along, too. I won't even begin to tell you all of what a drag THAT was.  Just these two things: she was a chain smoker, and no one smoked in my car...ever, so we had to make a lot of stupid stops so she could smoke. AND when she wasn't smoking she was sleeping. Alot of good that did me as company for my trip across the country.

I have one distinct memory of being somewhere very naturally beautiful. Do I know where that place is now? Nope.  Somwhere along the way. It was very late in the afternoon and when I looked up at the sun there were these 3 circular rainbows around it.  I tried to wake my mom up, but she couldn't be bothered. I stopped on the side of this two lane highway and layed smack dab in the middle of the road. Through my sunglasses I stared at the most unusual natural phenomenon I had ever seen - these rainbows were completely intertwined around the sun - it totally took my breath away. I must have layed in the middle of the road for 15 minutes. My mom never woke up. ( no cars came by either ) To this day that image in my mind and the experience of it amazes me. When I told my mom about stopping and what I saw she didn't believe me - story of my life.

I planned the entire road trip, which route I wanted to take and had decided that calling the ranch from truth of consequences, New Mexico would be sortof appropriate. When I spoke to the office manager and mentioned I was on my way to come work for the summer, she seemed a bit surprised. I will always wonder if I ever really had that job or if they created one for my arrival, I hated that I had to somehow explain that my mother was along for the ride.

Upon arrival I got the most horrific cold. The manager said she'd give me 4 days to recoup. Imagine starting a new job and laying poolside for 4 days. Ha! My mom was escorted to the airport in the courtesy van. I don't recall any warm and fuzzy feelings as she left.

They had me lodge in the double wide trailer behind the barn, and told me that I would be sharing it. Since I was first to arrive for the season they told me to set up house as I like - having first dibs I took the only bedroom with a private bath and all the furniture, well not all the furniture. Just the matching desk, dresser and headboard. Later I was told that wasn't nice of me, but heck at 18 how am I supposed to know that I couldn't have it all.

I had no idea what my job was. I was told to be in the kitchen at 5. I was shown how to set up for breakfast, how to serve it, and how to clean it up. After breakfast I shadowed the housekeeper and cleaned rooms. Then I set up, served and cleaned up lunch. After that I did the laundry. I got a break then, but had to be back to set up happy hour, set up, serve and clean up dinner. By the time that was done it was almost 8 and I was dead tired. I did this 6 days in a row. Thus my role and responsibilities. Interestingly enough as the season progressed I fed the horses in the morning, took on odd laundry for ranch guests for money, made homemade ice cream with the kids on Saturdays and cleaned the owners home. The energy of an 18 year old is pretty darn amazing. They paid me in lodging, food and I was given $65 every 2 weeks for spending money. I would be given a big gratuity at the end of the season. Not everyone got tips, but I did. I actually got hundreds of dollars in tips. Especially from the European dudes and dude-ettes.

When we knew that the next day was our day off us cowgirls would don our very tightest jeans, skimpy tops, cowboy boots and go dancing. The watering hole along the highway was a real dive, the floor was dirt, the cowboys - the real ones, would spit if they liked your behind and they actually frowned on young ladies having a beer. I really didn't want to drink, I wanted to dance! I tell you I never was without someone who didn't want to two step or spin me around for hours. I'd dance so wildly and for so long I'd be covered in sweat, and I was never ever happier.

The ranch and it's ranch hands were a cast of characters unlike anything I have ever known. We all had our reasons for working there, most were misfits, many of us eventually couldn't stand each other and yet a guest at the ranch would never know the story behind the facade of helping them all to be dudes while staying at Lazy K. I could tell you stories that would curl your hair, that would have you scratch your head and that would have you wonder if it was even an environment for someone as young as I was. To this day though I will tell you that it was the very VERY best job I ever had.

What I learned most from this very odd job was that I absolutely adore people - while working there I met folks from all over the world. I discovered that I really need mountains around me (why I live in the midwest is completely beyond me), and MOST of all, I am totally not afraid to work hard.

P.S. I did have a bit of a romance at the ranch, that story is here, and when I was trying to link up the post I discovered that this wonderful ranch is still around - I had heard that it was sold. How cool is that!! 


view of the hills from lazy k bar ranch flick image credit

Karen Hanrahan ~ Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant/Blog Author
708.482.0678 ~ Websites: Nutrition Weight Loss, and Green Clean oprah's favorite!
 
How do you celebrate Earth Day?
If you're not cleaning green - what's stopping you?