OAKLAND PARK, Fla. \u2014 In Oakland Park, one woman is proving you\u2019re never too old to show up for your community.<\/p>\n
Local 10\u2019s Alexis Frazier sat down with our \u201cFresh Face\u201d of the week, who says even at 92 years old, she\u2019s not ready to hang up the towel just yet at her bartending job.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the 90s now is the 80s, so I\u2019m not 92 in my head — I\u2019m 82!\u201d Margie Sadowski joked.<\/p>\n
Sadowski\u2019s motto is think young, feel young. And get this — she doesn\u2019t even drink!<\/p>\n
\u201cI never drank. I just don\u2019t like alcohol. I don\u2019t even like to smell it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Despite her age and dislike for alcohol, Sadowski is still clocking in, still pouring drinks and still rocking a 9-to-5 with a big smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was looking for a job, and my husband, he knew the woman that had the bar, and she was real upset that night,\u201d Sadowski said. \u201cAnd I said to her, \u2018What\u2019s the matter?\u2019 And she said, \u2018Barmaids, you can never count on them. They never show up. They get drunk.\u2019 She said, \u2018So now I have to find another one.\u2019 And I just said to her, \u2018Why not train me? I\u2019ll take it!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s it — I was 24 years old and here I am, 92, and still doing it,\u201d Sadowski added.<\/p>\n
At one point, Sadowski was retired, but she says she hates sitting at home, saying that\u2019s not her style. <\/p>\n
So when her daughter found herself short-staffed at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in Oakland Park, she made a call to mom.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like it. I make money, I\u2019m out of the house. I can\u2019t stand sitting home. I can\u2019t stand sitting either, so this is ideal for me,\u201d Sadowski said. \u201cBut not a lot of people are going to hire people at my age, you know that. They don\u2019t even want you when you\u2019re 70 for Christ\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working four days a week, Sadowski wears a lot of hats. <\/p>\n
She opens the bar, pours up drinks and keeps the drinks flowing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve got so many different drinks, I don\u2019t even know what the hell they\u2019re talking about! I\u2019m telling you the truth,\u201d Sadowski said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what they are — I did years ago, but today they\u2019re off the wall drinks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sadowski is also the secretary for the order and is even known as the unofficial therapist behind the bar.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey tell me a lot of things I never even knew, as old as I am,\u201d she said. \u201cThey don\u2019t like it when I tell them the truth, but I say, \u2018Then don\u2019t tell me your problem, don\u2019t ask me. If you don\u2019t want to hear it, don\u2019t ask me.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Like anyone, there are days Sadowski could use a break from the grind.<\/p>\n
But most days, she\u2019s excited to come in, saying it feels less like work and more like family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love this, I like people. This is my forte,\u201d Sadowski said. <\/p>\n
So here\u2019s the question you\u2019ve been waiting for — when will Sadowski call it quits?<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Til I\u2019m about 100,\u201d she said. \u201cThen I\u2019m going to retire because I figure by that time the kids are going to be old — my daughter\u2019s 71.\u201d<\/p>\n
And honestly, with energy like hers, we\u2019ll drink to that!<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very exciting to work here sometimes, especially when they\u2019re drinking \u2013 woah, my God!\u201d Sadowski said. <\/p>\n
So if you ever find yourself in Oakland Park and are looking to have a drink, visit Sadowski at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.<\/p>\n
But remember, she works the daytime shift!<\/p>\n