My First Job, as a Paperboy

My first job was as a paperboy for the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I lived in Harrisburg from 6th grade through 10th grade, so it was probably somewhere in the middle of that time.

I remember that there were parts of that job that I really liked.  I loved earning my own money for the first time in my life.  I enjoyed riding my bicycle around the neighborhood, seeing other people's houses, and getting to know some neighbors a little bit better.  I also really liked the pride that I felt in being our neighborhood's paperboy; there was just something special in claiming that title.

There were also parts of the job that I didn't like.  I've never been a morning person, and that time of my life was no exception.  I especially dreaded Sunday mornings, when I had to wake up super early to "stuff" the papers with the inserts I'd received the day before and then deliver these extra heavy Sunday newspapers to even more people than during the week.  I sometimes roped my sister Jessica into helping me out; I have no idea how I got her to do it or why she did it at all.  My dad, of course, was always there, especially since he's always been a morning person, pretty much the polar opposite in that regard to me.

I think I kept the position for about a year.  It's nice looking back now and saying that was my first job.  My daughter Seva will probably be amazed, since more and more now news is delivered to the masses through the internet and cable television.  The idea of her father being a paperboy will probably seem "so 20th century" to her.  I'm proud to say that my first job was as a paperboy.