"You know what? I wouldn't trade my job for anything in the world. I love it. I don't even want to work nowhere else. I've had people tell me this is not where I need to be. They say I need to be somewhere else because I am not exploring my horizon. But I love where I am.

I grew up in Shreveport, La. I had some loving Christian parents. There were eight of us, five girls and three boys. My parents were very strict and believed in us going to church. Oh Lord, sometimes I didn't want to go, but every time the doors opened, I was in church.

They died at an early age, but we just kept the tradition on with the foundation they gave us. It carried us through life so far, 'cause we believe in giving. We believe in sharing.

When my parents passed away, I had just come out of high school and there were three sisters under me. There were no jobs, and I needed to support my kids. My aunt gave one of my sisters a bus ticket to come to California to visit, and my sister in turn gave it to me. Told me, 'Take your kids, and start a new life.' Been in Oakland ever since.

I have two sons, Darren is 40, and Stephen is 39. The loves of my life. I have nine grandbabies - seven biologically and two that I inherited. They call me Granny. And then I have five great-grandbabies - two biologically and five altogether.

I call myself Crazy Mary because I like to tell jokes, make people laugh. Even when I'm hurting on the inside, I put aside my pain and I can talk to you and you'll never know that I'm hurting inside. It's just the way I am.

I get an hour for lunch. Sometimes I walk around and eat. Or I go get me some lunch and bring it back to eat. Just sit in the booth with whoever is working and conversate with them my whole lunch hour.

I love people. I tell them they inspire me 'cause a lot of them come with a positive attitude. They smile, and that helps me out a lot. They say, 'Oh Mary, you look nice,' even if I don't look nice. It encourages me to be a better person and a better cashier.

If I want to brighten a customer's day I say, 'Good morning,' or I say something funny. We'll sit there and talk awhile if there isn't a car waiting - 'cause I love to talk. My dad said that would be my downfall. But I got it from him."

- As told to Edward Guthmann Do you or someone you know want to share a work story? E-mail us at datebook@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page E - 10 of the San Francisco Chronicle