I dressed like this for work. I can distinctly remember this outfit, all these years later. Photo was about 1975, and it is now 2019. (44 years ago.) I bought this at a really nice dress shop in town. This was a splurge for me, as I was making most of my own clothes at that time. The pants were part of a pants suit, it was polyester double knit. Stratchy! But quite in style at the time. It had a matching plaid jacket, but I occasionally switched off to this yellow A-line blazer which I liked.
That's a Mickey Mouse watch from DisneyWorld that I'm wearing. It has a clear band, and clear casing on the watch. Fun to see the inner workings.
Oversized silver aviator glasses with photogray lenses.
I wore blond highlights in my hair.
Of course there is more to this story. I became a bank teller in 1972, just after Ed & I married. He was in college and I was working. He was on a football scholarship, so his coach called in a favor and got me a job at the local bank where the college was located.
Such began my banking career. I had a one year certificate (from a local business college) in Secretarial Science. I could take shorthand and type. I had not yet gone to a 4 year college.
When Ed graduated in 1975, I sought a bank teller job in our hometown. I was successful, as I now had some years of banking experience. I accepted a job at a bank in town, only to be told on a Friday afternoon, not to bother showing up for my first day on Monday. We surmised that I lost the opportunity because of the reputation of Ed's family. I don't think I every knew for sure.
I went on to be hired an another local bank. I went to work there right away in mid 1975. I liked it OK. They offered educational assistance, so I signed up for college classes they paid for. I took classes like Home Mortgage Lending and Business Law. I did well in the coursework. Classes were at night. I had 18 hours college credit by the time I left that job.
One day I was at my teller window. One of the executive VP's of the bank stepped up to my window. "Barbara," he said quietly, "lock up your drawer and step into Mr. Highland's office."
I had only been there a few months, but I was optimistic. I thought, oh well, they must be going to talk about giving me a raise, or more responsibilities."
Mr. Highland owned the bank, a law firm, and the local newspaper. He was not there that day.
In the plush office, I was escorted to a sofa. The men in suits stood around me, staring at me grimly. There were 6 men in the room. One was the Chief of Police (in full uniform), two were the executive VP's of my bank, the other 3 were attorneys for Mr. Highland's law firm.
Finally, one of them spoke.
"Is there any insanity in your family?"
I began to shake.
"Is there girlfriend in your husband's life? or your Father's life?" "Any infidelity??"
I could barely speak, I felt so scared and bewildered. I merely could stammer "Uh, no?" I think I was crying by now. I was so confused. It was truly awful. I was embarrassed, horrified, and terrified.
This ludicrous questioning went on for a while. No one advised me of my rights, no one else sat down. I was under the white hot glare of their eyes.
Finally, one of the men realized, "Oh, she doesn't know what's happened. She doesn't have any idea what we're talking about."
I think it was the Chief of Police, thank God he knew me and my family. He was at my wedding for God's sake. I went to school with both his sons. He did speak up for me. He was the only one who knew me.
So, the story was:
The bank switchboard operator received a call that said "Get rid of Barbara Nicholson or we will blow up the bank."
They were taking it seriously, of course. I had no idea what caused this, still do not know to this day.
They closed the bank, offered to let us all leave. I went to the employee lunch area and waited. They had told me that the caller would probably be watching who left the bank, so I didn't want to appear weak I guess.
The girl working the switchboard that day had been someone I went to 4-H camp with. She and I had liked the same boy when we were about 12 or 13. He liked me and gave me his ring that summer. Could she have been resentful over that? I doubt it, but I do not know.
Did I short change someone? I don't think so, as my cash drawer nearly always balanced. I was a good teller.
Was I rude to someone? I wasn't usually rude, in fact I liked talking to people and was considered friendly. Maybe on a bad day?
Was my husband seeing another woman? Well, I don't know. We had only been married about 4 years and I think we were happy, but one never knows.
All I can say is, a few years later in life, when I was asked to step into the Principal's office, it always triggered something in me. That's a difficult problem for a teacher! I would sweat and shake and barely form coherent thoughts.
Job interviews became problematic, especially if there were guys in suits.
Looking back, I think this was anxiety, but I didn't have the words to describe it in 1975.
This anxiety never left me. I suffered from it throughout my career. I was fine one on one, but got really nervous otherwise.
I could never wear the suit again. It hung in my closet for a long time. I destroyed it before I threw it away, as I never wanted to see it worn by anyone else either.
I never worked in a bank again after I quit that job when I had Amanda in 1978. I used the 18 hours of college credits as my electives in my pursuit of my BA degree.
Funny how life works.
