 Following are the letters to Barbara Ehrenreich in 2001. To view more letters, please select the year: 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005
(Postmarked 5 October, 2001, Albany, NY)
Dear Ms. Ehrenreich,
Recently I read "Nickel and Dimed" and found that, in the relatively short time you spent in the bottom-feeder jobs, you gained (and shared) an accurate perception of those lines of work.
For the past 40 years, I have, for whatever reason, gravitated to those jobs. Sure, I've been an airline reservationist and travel agent but have logged more punch-ins and punch-outs as a waitress, McDonald's counterperson, video store cashier, Wal-mart (rah Sam Walton - NOT!) and my hopefully last job, as a bakery clerk at a local supermarket.
You were so right about the aspects of minimum wage jobs. God forbid you catch your breath for a second, for punishment (cleaning out floor drains in my current job) is sure to follow. So I learned early on to pace myself, to the "terminal slows" on those rare occasions when work was caught up.
I enjoyed your humor, especially about the different kinds of toilet dirt in your housecleaning job.
Since employers seem to pigeon hole me into drudge work, I also never share my education (B.A.) or other abilities (I am a free-lance writer) because they simply do not care. In bottom-of-the-food-chain jobs, the keys are (1) showing up, not calling in sick (2) showing up on time and (3) not having an accident at work. At my current job where I have joined the burn hall of fame and acquired varicose veins that make my legs look like doilies, I proposed writing articles for their in house newsletter. Nope, not interested, once a bakery clerk, always a bakery clerk.
Fortunately, I have spun some of my work experiences into articles and columns (I have written a humor column for the past 6 years for a Ft. Myers publication) that often pay more than a week's salary at the job I'm spoofing.
I have also gained some lessons for life from my jobs
(1) McDonalds (I lasted 2 months) -- when salting fries, spread the salt in the shape of an "M." Wonder if Ray Kroc does that at Hamburger U.
(2) Jamesway (6 months - cashier). When a customer pissed me off, I always made sure some of his change contained Canadian coins.
(3) Wal-mart (1 month - cashier). After about 2 weeks, a supervisor said my "count" was low. Say what? Guess you're supposed to scan so many items a minute. Conclusion: Forget the motto "Our People Make the Difference." It's the count.
(4) XXX rated video store (6 months). Most of the customers were old men. Guess that means, those who can, do; those who can't, watch.
I have also learned a great deal from co-workers. I am an expert about restraining orders, juvie court, rave parties, the HRS system, where to get the best tattoo, and who to see, should I feel the urge, to buy drugs. It's often like viewing Jerry Springer for 8 hours a day.
I have never written an author before but I felt compelled to let you know your book touched a nerve in the work I've had for nearly 4 decades. Also, I chastise myself for not thinking of writing about all my drudge jobs. But then I've been so busy dispensing donuts, slicing bread, and massaging my aching feet that the prospect of writing a book seems insurmountable, at least for now.
Please forgive this handwritten letter. I'm visiting my mother in upstate NY & I revel in this week of no-tech life. (She has no clothes dryer, microwave, or computer.) I do miss my word processor and spell check, though.
I hope that many others read your book but, unfortunately as you may have discovered, the ones who could see themselves are not generally readers. If you ever pursue the subject again, I would be interested in the sequel. Perhaps by that time, I'd be an apprentice baker or decorator. Hah! Fat chance!
Sincerely
Patricia Misiuk, Florida
November 12, 2001
Dear Barbara Ehrenreich,
THANK YOU for writing Nickel and Dimed, and for the hard work you put into living, researching and writing this important book. I loved the writing, the seriousness, the humor and the heart of it.
I might see myself in and out of this book. (I've worked retail, cleaned bathrooms, animal hospital kennels, etc.) I hope you don't mind a little self-indulgence here, but I thought you might find a brief version of my story interesting.
Economically and wage speaking, I've pretty much been all over the map. When I was born in 1951, my family was lower income, but I grew up in the middle-class; a typical 50's scenario. As I said, I've worked retail, but I've also been a supervisor in a college store and a teacher (5th grade and full-time sub.) I once owned a house in Mountain View, CA (1986) and I spent a total of about 2 1/2 years during the 90's living in my van - not by choice.
In 1993, I had it all- a nice home on a couple of acres (rented), a spouse, two cars, lots of "things." Then in November of that year, while subbing a high-school science class, an explosion of hydrogen and oxygen gases badly damaged the otic nerves in my ears. I lost everything I had - that is, career, wife, hom - that I took for granted. I lived in and out of my van, people's homes and cheap motels and, for several years, rarely ventured out into the public where normal noises caused excruciating pain to my head.
Only in the last two+ years have I partially returned to a "normal" life. I live in a cheap 1 BR dump and work part-time in two jobs. Both jobs pay $7 an hour. Total monthly take home - about $1250. Thank gawd - no children involved.
I'm certainly not the poorest of the poor. I've managed to manage the pain. I'm warm, dry, reasonably well fed. I still have my guitar, some records, books and clothes. I work hard - especially considering the siren-like tinnitus in my ears and pain in my head - and I'm thankful to have survived thus far, having nearly ended it twice last decade. But I do not revel in my $7 an hour condition.
For myself - I'll continue to find a way to get by because I give enough of a shit now (sorry - I was thinking about Wal-Mart!) But I still think about the Mexican family in #4 who slave to pick our food. I think about Sam (I'll call him) who cleans some banker or managers offices to support himself and his daughter and hopefully stay warm this winter at 3600 ft, in #2. I think about all the people you worked with from 1998 to 2000 and all the millions like them. Will they get by too?
Well, thanks to your book, your hard work, your giving way more than you had to, I think we'll have a better chance. Thank you, Barbara!
Oh - also - I saw you on Bill Maher's show a while back. I often disagree with Maher's statements, but great things come from his show too and I'm very glad he mentioned your book - that's how I heard about it. And you were great! I hope you're on again sometime.
Thanks again! I look forward to reading more of your books!
Sincerely,
Brian Lux
Pollock Pines, CA
More Barbara Ehrenreich Letters: 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005
|
