Today, I was asked about my credentials. This caused me much pause to reflect on my life's career's. After High School I attended college in Hawaii and worked nights for a company taking inventory in Honolulu.
I later returned to Portland, OR and worked in an Orthopedic Office making artificial limbs, leg and body braces. A field I probably should have stayed in as I was Grand Fathered into the field and trained on site. Now, a college degree is required for such work.
Later, I owned several other companies, a book store, tanning salon (which I don't recommend), carpet cleaning business and travel/tourism company.
I then got a degree in nursing and worked in Orthopedic surgery for a couple of years. I just didn't enjoy that field at all and left to go back into the travel industry.
My massage career began in 1984 and quite by accident. Working for a major airline I was simply looking for a little weekend spending cash and thought I'd get a degree in massage for extra income.
Well, my first month massaging I made twice what I earned at the airline. So, no brainier. My airline job became my second income hobby...And... that airline career in itself could be a book.
I worked from home for the first month when one of my massage guests who owned a major chain of hotels invited me to come work for him. Well, the story behind that client and myself could be another book...
To cut to the chase I massaged famous people as in President Ronald Reagan, Victoria Principle, Maureen McGovern, actor Dan Cortese and countless people of class, wealth and position that I just don't recall at the moment of this writing.
In addition, once a month I was in NYC working on the Broadway cast of Grande Hotel, huge accounting firm Deloitte and Touche and this list goes on as well.
When I wasn't working on the notables of the world I was often invited to their private parties and functions. Twas a glamorous and exciting time jetting and limo-ing around the US to these events. An experience of a lifetime I suppose? A story of me hobnobbing with the wealthy and famous that very few people will ever hear nor know about.
I can just hear my epitaph now. Dale, born here, died here, survived by? So, you now know a little more about me than will those that will hear my funeral oration. LOL!
Be sure to treat all you encounter with respect. You just never know how interesting their life story might be...