I couldn’t get the  smell of burgers out of my t-shirts no matter how many times I washed them. Everyday I heard the screeching sound of the milkshake nozzle hitting the inside of the stainless steel cup. The grumble from my stomach from the smell of bacon as it hit the hot grill. Wiping ketchup bottles that burst from the steamy summer heat. Black aprons stained with ketchup, clam chowder, and thousand island dressing. My unfortunate decision to wear white sneakers. Washing unmeasurable amounts of red burger baskets and silverware. My first job.

“Can I get a knife?” A customer asked from the seating at the bar. He had a Smitty burger sitting in front of him. Two burger patties, three buns, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, bacon, and thousand island dressing, I can name it off the top of my head by now.

“I’ll tell you the way to eat a Smitty burger: take it, smash it down with the palm of your hand, then hold it in both hands and don’t let go. When that doesn’t work, set it on the ground and give it a good stomp.” This was a common question asked when someone ordered the famous Smitty burger at Fat Smitty’s Restaurant in Discovery Bay and this was a typical response you’ll hear from any of the employees.

This was my first real experience working at a job. Fat Smitty’s is located just 12 miles from the hometown I grew up in.  This small area, family owned business gave me a waitressing job without having prior experience. They took a gamble with me but I expressed my dire need of money and my abundance of time that summer. I had just completed my first year of college and was financially dependent from my family. I didn’t know how to work for over four hours on my feet and still keep my head on straight. I ended up working over eight hours a day, usually four to five days a week.

I already had a relationship with the owners but I was also joining a team with the other waitresses. Luckily, they all could sympathize with my hectic first week, second week, third week, even my second month working. We all made mistakes, we just had to be able to bounce back and help each other. The food we served was ‘All-American’, burgers, milkshakes, fries, etc. The restaurant owners used to be in the Marine Corps so they support the military by including a donation box inside the restaurant; that goes towards paying for the military’s food if they stop by in uniform. Flags hang from the walls, military pictures, and signatures hang in the hallways. What also makes this restaurant a destination for tourists and locals is the money hanging from the ceilings. For thirty years it’s been a tradition (not a requirement) that people decorate a dollar and hang it on the walls. The money has only been taken down once in 2012 and amounted to $10,316 and was donated to the St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital and local boy scouts. This makes it an iconic destination for tourists visiting Discovery Bay, especially in the summer time.

By the end of my first day I had orange and purple splotches from permanent ketchup or blackberry syrup on my brand new black apron. My feet were aching because I wore red vans with absolutely no support. I messed up two orders that ended up backing up the kitchen. I spilled a tray on the ground. I got sprayed in the face from the milkshake machine. After my first day of work, I never wanted to go back. I was being a complete child about having to spend eight hours running around on my feet. I doubted myself and my ability to handle stressful situations and right then I realized I was holding myself back from finally being independent. So the next day, I went back.