Crystal Baldessari:  

Life You may remember me as 'Crys' Bridgers back at CHHS. I did not attend our 1970 graduation because I went directly to Charlotte to try and get a job in advertising. That proved to be very discouraging, since I was told at every interview to go to school. By day I went to Central Piedmont Community College (Visual Design/ Advertising Art), and worked at the Sears Jewelry department by night. My pay did not include any commission and by the beginning of my second year there I found a more lucrative job at night waitressing at a place called 'The 'Ol Smokehouse'. In 1972 my sister Amy talked me into going to work at a resort called St. Mary's on a leased portion of the Black Foot Indian Reservation. It was located in just outside of Glacier National Park about 25 miles south of Alberta Canada. This was a job lasting for the summer and was a wonderful experience working with kids my age from all over the states. (even a few from CH!) After my return I moved to Chapel Hill again and was offered a job as manager at the brand new Baskin Robbins ice cream store located on Franklin Street. I went to the Baskin Robbin's in Cameron Village to learn how to make and decorate ice cream cakes, which boosted our business. After 3 years I had saved enough money to move to Greensboro and enroll in at UNC-G (Fine Art.) I did this for about two years until it became impossible to pay for my living experiences and school. I was offered the Food and Beverage Director job at the Market Street Hilton after having worked there since moving to Greensboro, so I quit school and went to work full time. By 1977 I had had enough of promises of pay raises and the work became mundane. So I qu...Expand for more