By Judy Wilkinson Baker

This article was originally published in 2023, Issue 4, of the Retiree Guardian. Newsletter of the CenturyLink Retirees.

My career began in North Platte, NE in 1962. I hired on with Northwestern Bell as a part-time long-distance operator while still attending high school. I loved that job and worked there until I transferred to Denver in 1964.

This is where the story begins. It was my first day of work at Mountain Bell Operator Services. Keep in mind that I hailed from a small town in Nebraska. There were very few elevators, escalators, or revolving doors. After driving for the very first time in the busy traffic in the big city, I finally found a place to park downtown by the 931 14th Street building. What? I had to pay to park?? After fumbling through my wallet I found 35 cents and put it in the designated slot for my parking place. I hoped my car would still be there when I got off work because the parking attendants looked suspicious. They were eying my 1960 Corvair Spyder with the spiffy paint job and plaid interior.

I grabbed my lunch sack and headed toward the main entrance to the 931 building. It was a “high rise” with about 15 or 16 stories. WOW! The tallest building in North Platte was eight stories. In the alcove to the building was a gorgeous mural of the beginning times in the telephone industry – linemen climbing poles, operators, and such. I stood there in awe of this gorgeous mural. People were rushing past me as if they were going to a fire. That pace was definitely foreign to this Nebraska girl. After surveying the entrance, I bravely approached a strange looking door that went around in circles. Yikes! People would jump into their “opening” without breaking stride.   I watched and waited for my chance to “jump in.”

My thought was that this door was moving at least 20 miles an hour!! Not only did these maniacs jump in without breaking stride, but the women did it in high heels! Moving forward I spotted the opening that I was going to claim. Only problem – a huge man that looked like a linebacker jumped into my spot. Well, there was no stopping me now. I was bursting forward in full force. I reached “MY” opening and jumped in right on his heels. Yep! Into the same cubicle that was meant for one person. It was too late to back out, so I got on my tippy toes and shared the tight fit with Mr. Linebacker. There was a second when he tried to glance back to see why it seemed so crowded but he kept moving in an anxious effort to get to the opening and move toward the elevator. Of course, I was embarrassed at the situation once I realized that I made a poor choice, so I held back so I would not have to face my “cubicle mate.” I hoped that I wouldnot see this man again, as I was sure he thought I was an imbecile.

Now fast forward several years – I interviewed for a secretarial position in the State Office reporting to Mr. Nate Done, State Head over Operator Services. You guessed it. I walked into his big, impressive office and there sat Mr. Linebacker. OMG! I was sure that I would not land this job if he recognized me as the woman who jumped in behind him in the revolving door. Fortunately, he did not and I secured that position working for him. He was a kind man and we enjoyed a four-year working relationship. As my time in that job ended, I decided to own up to the incident.

I waited for a perfect opportunity to reveal my secret. My office mates were hosting a going away party for me and Mr. Done spoke and thanked me for doing a fine job, etc. This was my opening – I thanked him and followed with, “Mr. Done, do you remember several years ago when some woman jumped into the same space with you at the 931 14th Street revolving door?” He paused for what seemed like forever and replied … “That was You?” With a blushing face, I fessed up. He responded, “Well, I have to admit I thought whoever did that was pretty simple and I never dreamed she would be my secretary one day. I am glad I didn’t connect the dots.”

To which I replied, “Me too.”