My first endeavor was probably snow shoveling and lawn mowing. I lived in a community in Northford Connecticut. A rural community my parents lived on a former dairy farm. I shoveled driveways and sidewalks. Most people paid between $2 and $5 for the work. Sometimes we got multiple snows and I collected well. Tips often included cookies and hot chocolate. When we got the tractor with a snow blower everything was $5-$10. I loved the snow.

I put a small tray out my window. Salt sat in the tray and a wire connected it to the buzzer/light in my room. Snow would fall. Snow would melt. Circuit completed. Buzzer would ring. Preparation to be out early ahead of others would begin.We did not have insulated boots but those buckled black boots, hand me down snow suits, (if we were lucky) mittens and hats. We worked hard and fast.  When my brothers got older they joined me.

I lived in “suburbia” where there were a growing number of driveways and walkways. Many were happy to have a young man come along and do it.

The same applied for lawn mowing. Many were content to have young people mow their lawns, trimming the flower beds and hedges.

Folks-I can still smell the gasoline poured out of the red 5 gallon can. (A good year for gas those 60’s were when there was no smell of corn…) I can smell the freshly cut grass in the hot sun. I remember the towel tucked in my belt for wiping the sweat away.

And of course we had the occasional accident of burning ourselves on the motors, or tipping the lawn mowers (No tilt indicators…) or the cuts and bruises that come from working.

These two things quickly grew into work on a farm and so much more in my neighborhood.