The other night the crew from Lucky Pet went out for pizza and beer. I asked everyone what was their first job. I tried to explain this place to them, Nickerson Farms. I had the typical "kid" jobs, i.e. babysitting and picking tomatoes but when I turned 16 I got a real job. My grandfather was the prep cook at Nickerson Farms in Whiteford, MI off highway 23. It was and still is a well traveled truck road. This chain of truck stops was spread out through the midwest. It was a truckers comfy stop. Do any of you remember them? The gift shops were to die for! They sold every knick knack Patty wack you could imagine and the one I worked at had a working beehive attached to it! How on earth they got away with that still amazes me. Someone would inevitability park near the bee entrance. Now days that just says, "lawsuit!"
I started out as a dishwaher........gross. Then my grandfather started teaching me how to prep cook. First thing was to learn how to make the gravy for the biscuits. You take one huge sheet pan of bacon grease, pour it in a big pot, heat it up, add flour, make a roux, add milk and salt and pepper. Done. Then it was on to liver and onions. THEN I had to take care of the gigantic bucket on wheels with raw chicken in it. To this day I DO NOT eat fried chicken. FINALLY I got bumped up to waitressing. We wore cute little candy stripe outfits with nylons and white shoes. Mrs. Faust inspected our costumes before every shift. Then in poured the patrons. Looking back, this was my first real lesson in people skills. We all know what can travel up and down a major highway. I'm sure I waited on a few serial killers, I know I waited on a few psychopaths. I recalll one of them, his name was, "RON", he drove a yellow "K-Car", his skin looked like a gravel pit and he chain smoked, non stop; he sat there all day. I bet I would change his ashtray 10 times in a shift. Oh yeah, everyone smoked. The other waitresses always had butts going and so did all the cooks. Yuck. There were always a lot of bikers and not the new age bikers that are doctors by day and play biker on the weekend wearing designer "do-rags". These guys would have colors on, I just thought they were hungry. Hmmmm. Hey I was 16! I remember one trucker asking if I'd like to see his truck. My answer was something smart a$$ I'm sure. So this really was my first socialogy course, didn't realize it at the time. I know I just liked the pocket full of $1 bills I would have at the end of my shift. Funny though, I've worked in some pretty fancy restaurants, worked with crazy wacky chefs but the Sunday morning shift a Nickerson Farms is the one I remember the most.
What was your first job?
Not so sure this is a good memory? hee hee. I too worked there before you my little sis and I remember pouring vinegar into those chicken trash cans when it started to go funky so it would take the smell and weird color away. I don't eat fried chicken either.
Posted by: Rebecca | February 28, 2012 at 07:48 AM
WOW thanks for that blast from the past. Remember it well...but not really sure if I ever actually ate there. My first "real" job was a nursing home. I was a nurse's aide. Yep just like babies except their butts were bigger. YIKES!! Some times I think back and HOW did I do that for so long:) The grannies were oh so good to me:)
Posted by: Lisa W. | February 28, 2012 at 08:05 AM
Yes it was a real learning lesson for you girls
but I did love the gift shop still have some really neat figurines from there. Gpa Petee loved it and loved being with the people. Good memories well maybe lv ya
Posted by: darlene petee | February 28, 2012 at 07:10 PM
A trip down memory lane! I think that the building is still there...where did you ever find a pic of it? I know you didn't have your smart phone back then and payphones didn't have cameras...
Posted by: Lisa | February 29, 2012 at 07:22 AM
I was wondering like Lisa how did you get a picture of it??? I went there many many times after the bars closed - best breakfast in town! We would hang there until 3 or 4 a.m. and it was just fun. So sad that now it sits abondened and lonely. They tried re-opening it several times but it just didn't work. I remember that your grandpa worked there but didn't remember that you and Beck had both worked there.
Posted by: Mary Jo | February 29, 2012 at 08:45 AM