Becky Hughes:  

My first job started in October of 1971 at Zayre Dept Store at Northgate Shopping Center, I was paid $1.65 an hour-(minimum wage) I worked in the ladies and jewerly departments. Now what I remember most about it is straightening the clothes in the ladies dept-all the clothes. I was able although, to get first dibs on the new stock of clothes and you know in 1971 I was very much into fashion so that I would be "groovy". I remember buying a suede vest with long, long fringe at Zayre. When I wore that I thought I was more groovy than one could possibly be, if you can be that at the age of 15. I have moved on from the days of ladies department of Zayre Dept Store obviously. I was a "domestic engineer" for most of the years I was married (1972-1982) working part time here and there. After I divorced I worked for the now defunct Fox Photo for over 18 years as photo lab manager. I really loved that job. The photography and photofinishing business was fun to me, but not during the Christmas season! After Fox Photo was sold to Wolf Camera I decided to move on and try a job with less responsibility.I was really burnt out on the retail corporate enviornment and my brother was seriously ill. I went to work for some friends at their custom photgraphic lab doing custom prints for serious photographers and also having a second job working with another friend taking pictures of golf teams playing in tournaments. Then we would sell the photos to the team members. The golf photo job fizzled out only after one summer. After that I went full time into the custom photograpic printing. After five years of the printing which I enjoyed I had an opportunity to get into the insurance profession, back into a job with responsibility. I am now working for an insurance company in Midtown Memphis. I work in the accounting department the first half of the day and then I in the HR department - Life and Health after lunch. I find BOTH areas interesting and ...Expand for more