It was 33 years ago that I started working at Zeros Mr. Submarine. My first job for a corporation of some sort. It was my junior year of high school and the part time gig was fun to say the least. Making sandwiches is not a glorious job, but I did make some friends there and the atmosphere was very lighthearted. Most of the crew I worked with were high school students at nearby Princess Anne. Zeros is still one of my places to eat when I return to the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area.
How my working life has changed from place to place is a road map of dirt roads and super highways. I've crossed paths with some terrific individuals who shared their knowledge with me. I've met some who would rather push me off a bridge than work with me. As far as I know, it was their personality that would not allow outsiders within their inner circle of trust. I learned to respect those individuals as much as the ones who took me under their wings. Each had a way of teaching a lesson. There were potholes, speed bumps, ice patches and uphill climbs that at the time of each, gave little hope in a better day. Better days did arrive and the woes of those tough times were behind me.
I am now six months into my third jobless stint in my lifetime of trying to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and remain a contributing member of society. Each time I was looking for work seemed to last forever with no resolution in sight. Like those times, I have days of doubt and worthlessness. I have days of hope and confidence. I have days that pass by with nary a thought of work at all. I know this time will soon be behind me and will be entered into my history as another learned lesson about my worth as a husband, father, a friend and a colleague. The one thing I have noticed each time I have been out of work is that no one really wants to know about it. It's almost like having some awful disease that will be contracted if contact is made.
I have changed careers many times in my life. Multi-talented is an understatement when I tell you I was a Sandwich Maker, Van Customizer, Auto Mechanic, Rigger, Draftsman, Planner, Millwright, Welder, Pipe Fitter, Iron Worker, Supervisor, Superintendent, Estimator, Buyer and Cost Manager. I'm not sure what will be added to the list from my next job. I just know I will appreciate being able to add to my life experiences through the next job. Each job and its difference from the previous has been made possible through my ability to learn and adapt to what is needed for me to achieve success in the position.
I spoke to the Sage Automotive Interiors manufacturing employees last Tuesday. Gin and I sat in on their safety meeting and March for Babies kick-off. The plant is a former Milliken facility which was sold to a group of former Milliken managers. It was great to meet these people who have been long time supporters of the March of Dimes. Later in the week it was announce that the plant was moving from Spartanburg to Greenville. It was bittersweet news for the March of Dimes Upstate Division. The Spartanburg community will be losing a long time corporate supporter and the Greenville community will be gaining the same.
We have had some truck problems since the snow storm a few weekends ago. Apparently the Explorer hates being put in four wheel drive. After being switched to 4x4 then returned to automatic, it decides on its own to return to four wheel drive whenever it wants. When cycling through the commands to return to normal, it becomes belligerent and refuses. Then after a few slams of the gear shifter from neutral to drive or reverse, it returns to normal operation. It will work fine for a day or two, then return back to 4x4. I will be taking it to our mechanic this week.
Saturday we enjoyed a Low Country Boil with Nolan, Patrick Jessica and her family. Sunday (today) Patrick and I played a round of disc golf at the Greer Century Park. We threw a 9 over par. The course is a par 60 and I previously threw a 64 on a better weather day. Today we dealt with winds of 10 to 20 mph whcih made for some interesting plays.
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