Last week I was “tagged for a meme” on a friend’s blog. I’m not sure what that means but it sort of feels like the Internet equivalent of a chain letter.

Regardless, it has given me a good excuse to post an entry this Saturday morning. The idea behind this meme is to write about lessons you’ve learned from odd jobs.

When I was in high school, I decided I wanted to be associated with music in any way possible. I was taking piano lessons and little did I know that my teacher happened to have a very good connection with the local music store in Anderson, Indiana. The connection being that her husband and son ran the place. When I turned 16 it seemed like I was supposed to get a job, so I did. I’ll write more about that sense of duty that has dragged me through much of my life some other time.

When I started working at Music Today the summer before my sophomore year of high school, one event stands out to me. Right after I turned 16, I got a speeding ticket. I was driving my parent’s car that was sort of designated as the car reliable enough for the children to drive but not so nice that it would be a big deal if we destroyed it. Having had my driver’s license for about a month, I was busted doing 50 in a 35 that would eventually graduate to a 55 about 1 mile down the road. It scared me to pieces and I knew I’d never speed again.

Flash forward two whole months to a summer afternoon when I was driving the Music Today delivery truck to Lafayette, Indiana for an inventory delivery. A sheriff, coming the opposite way on a pretty quiet stretch of highway, somehow calculated that I was doing 13 mph over the speed limit and I got my second ticket.

At the time, I was dating a girl from school whose mother worked for an attorney who seemed to be notorious for “taking care of speeding tickets.” I know it sounds completely unethical (and it probably was) but all my friends were aware of this loophole in the justice system and learned at about the same time that we could get a second chance when this attorney would magically make our fines disappear. Which brings me to lesson number one.

1. Sometimes life gives you second chances. Third chances are pretty uncommon.

The first speeding ticket was “excused.” I did not get so lucky on the second one.

Back to the music store. There are so many stories and lessons I could relate. Maybe I’ll just give the lessons and not set them up.

1. It’s fun (but not nice) to play “set all items on the counter crooked for your OCD friend / co-worker who likes things neat and straightened.”
2. If you decide to kiss your girlfriend at your place of employment late at night, it’s best to make sure no one else is there. (Mom, I’m sure that one is a shock to you.)
3. When you are in high school and you work for a small business, you are not an employee. It goes beyond that really. I picked up cars from the repair shop for my employer, as well as other senior employees who just liked the idea of having someone to get their car for them.

And finally, I did learn that it’s possible to move a grand piano, but not fun. Here are the step by step instructions:

• Cover said piano with a blanket. Always do this. If you don’t, some people say that straps can leave permanent scars in the piano finish.
• Bind the lid to the piano with straps.
• Find 3 friends to help tip the piano on its side and onto a thing that looks like a sled but not as fun. Two of your friends should be large men.
• Detach the legs and pedals from the piano and put them out of the way so nobody trips on them carrying the piano up the stairs, for instance.
• Stand close to the piano while it’s moving so it looks like you’re helping lift. Seriously four people can’t really carry something through a doorway. Don’t try it.

It wasn’t the perfect job, but it was good experience for a wiry high school kid and the people I worked with were great. And I did learn one other life lesson. Be kind to your back: lift with your legs!