I was a sophomore at Oskaloosa High School. It was my first job . I was a carryout/checker. It was my first Christmas season in the grocery business. It was a crazy time with all of the customers coming to the store to get food (lot's of food) for Christmas dinners and parties. I didn't realize at the time that I would be working every day before Christmas for the next forty years. Today is the end of that streak. I am off today for the first time in forty years. I will be able to get to Christmas Eve on time this year. It's going to be a great day off.