[Graybeard58]

"I made excellent money during those years because I did a good job".

...In the summer of 1989 my son was making $100 per day in tips, working Fridays and Saturdays at Steak & Shake. he was a hard working personable young man and that's what it takes. Not bad for a 14 year old kid!

[BluH2o]

In the summer of 1989 my son was making $100 per day in tips, working Fridays and Saturdays at Steak & Shake.

A professional waiter in a high end restaurant in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, etc., can easily earn a 6 figure annual salary ($150 to $225 thou), a good portion of the money untaxed.