by Lester » Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:41 pm
In 1970 my first real job was at the Hacienda on Clinton Ave as a dishwasher and I then joined the Local Restaurant Union. However, after a few weeks the Hacienda went bankrupt. I was one of the luck ones to get paid before leaving the Hacienda because I was a union member. Remember, I was only about 17 years old and was really stupid about work and life.
Without really understanding the meaning of being a union member, the union sent me over to Pardini's Restaurant on Clovis Ave. in Fresno. I was hired as a busboy in 1971 without any experience but it turned out to be a really good job. Al Pardini worked nightly at the bar, and his wife ( I can't remember here name because we only called her "Ms. Pardini") would be in the restaurant.
One night the Union Representative showed up to collect his union dues from me. Being a total ungrateful idiot, I dodged them in the restaurant and they went away. I think it was because of my Hacienda experience, but the union helped me. Then a few months later they came back and left again. I asked one of the waitresses if the men were still in the restaurant and she said no. She said Al Pardini has been paying my union dues. I was very surprised. I never told Mr. Al Pardini thank you. I wish I was mature enough to of told him thank you.
And I wish I could of told him that every dish I accidentally broke, I broke right in front of him. I never broke the gold leaf plates (they were about $14 a plate) because that would get you fired. Al Pardini was tough, but he was fair..more than fair.
Another example of my immaturity was when one night in the restaurant Miss. Pardini was sitting with two other women at a table and as I passed by Miss. Pardini asked me for a light for her cigarette. I was very busy, and grabbed a half full match book out of my pocket and threw it on the table!!! I had class!
You would think Miss. Pardini would be upset. Actors and actresses often visited the restaurant so my response was a problem. No, she was not upset in the least. Miss. Pardini waited a day and then she called to the side and said, "Let me show you how to light a lady's cigarette." I said, "Okay!" I was eager to learn. She said, "Always carry a full book of matches. When asked for a light, take out the matchbook, strike the match, light her cigarette, shake out the match, don't blow it out. Close the matchbook and hand it to the lady right side up." Miss. Pardini was so kind and graceful that her instructions could not be interpreted as punishment at all because it wasn't.
The next night she asked me for a light while sitting at a table with guests. I did as she demonstrated and every tried to imitate her gracefulness. Her friends were amazed that she tamed that wild animal that was me. And if asked for a light, I do it the same way as she taught me.
Mr. Al Pardini and Miss. Pardini were really good persons. I didn't fully understand it at the time because of my young age...but I understand now.
In 1970 my first real job was at the Hacienda on Clinton Ave as a dishwasher and I then joined the Local Restaurant Union. However, after a few weeks the Hacienda went bankrupt. I was one of the luck ones to get paid before leaving the Hacienda because I was a union member. Remember, I was only about 17 years old and was really stupid about work and life.
Without really understanding the meaning of being a union member, the union sent me over to Pardini's Restaurant on Clovis Ave. in Fresno. I was hired as a busboy in 1971 without any experience but it turned out to be a really good job. Al Pardini worked nightly at the bar, and his wife ( I can't remember here name because we only called her "Ms. Pardini") would be in the restaurant.
One night the Union Representative showed up to collect his union dues from me. Being a total ungrateful idiot, I dodged them in the restaurant and they went away. I think it was because of my Hacienda experience, but the union helped me. Then a few months later they came back and left again. I asked one of the waitresses if the men were still in the restaurant and she said no. She said Al Pardini has been paying my union dues. I was very surprised. I never told Mr. Al Pardini thank you. I wish I was mature enough to of told him thank you.
And I wish I could of told him that every dish I accidentally broke, I broke right in front of him. I never broke the gold leaf plates (they were about $14 a plate) because that would get you fired. Al Pardini was tough, but he was fair..more than fair.
Another example of my immaturity was when one night in the restaurant Miss. Pardini was sitting with two other women at a table and as I passed by Miss. Pardini asked me for a light for her cigarette. I was very busy, and grabbed a half full match book out of my pocket and threw it on the table!!! I had class!
You would think Miss. Pardini would be upset. Actors and actresses often visited the restaurant so my response was a problem. No, she was not upset in the least. Miss. Pardini waited a day and then she called to the side and said, "Let me show you how to light a lady's cigarette." I said, "Okay!" I was eager to learn. She said, "Always carry a full book of matches. When asked for a light, take out the matchbook, strike the match, light her cigarette, shake out the match, don't blow it out. Close the matchbook and hand it to the lady right side up." Miss. Pardini was so kind and graceful that her instructions could not be interpreted as punishment at all because it wasn't.
The next night she asked me for a light while sitting at a table with guests. I did as she demonstrated and every tried to imitate her gracefulness. Her friends were amazed that she tamed that wild animal that was me. And if asked for a light, I do it the same way as she taught me.
Mr. Al Pardini and Miss. Pardini were really good persons. I didn't fully understand it at the time because of my young age...but I understand now.