first summer, second shift
fingers fumbled
as fill-in floater finagled
wires, levers, screws
aware
piecework production paid
second summer, first shift
lonely desk in factory maintenance shop
an occasional tease from one of the guys
endless electric test boards
solder, solder gun, burned fingers
third summer, third shift
five college girls
run their own line?
somebody might have lost their job over that decision
three month production of unusable product
Last week I read a post from my friend Jay Armstrong. He told his college summer factory story and in so doing, set a bucketful of memories spinning in my mind. Please read Jay’s story……
Millwork ain’t easy, millwork ain’t hard, millwork it ain’t nothing but an awful boring job. ~James Taylor Millworker
Now you might think…..
She’s making an argument against repetitive factory work.
Nope
Last week I met a woman who crocheted eight blankets since quarantine started.
I love mowing the lawn and lose track of time while pulling weeds.
Is it the WHY that matters?
Is it what your thoughts are telling you about the work?
My summer job kept the gas tank of my orange Pinto full so that I could adventure with friends outside of my 40 hour week. People’s refrigerators cycled properly (I hope) because I worked. Can you imagine where we’d be without the industrial revolution? I might have to send Henrietta out to catch rabbits for dinner.
And yet….the world and humans keep on keeping on.
Are we still in the information age?
from Wikipedia:
individuals who perform tasks that can easily be automated are forced to find employment
Forced?
Or have an opportunity?
Do we burn our fingers with the language we use, the thoughts we kindle?
Okay…..the motor I started to build a few days ago has morphed into something unexpected. How wonderful!
Tomorrow I’m going to call this series a wrap…..
Darwin
Personal responsibility
Community
Possibility
Stay tuned…..
Some time back, the US Army ran an ad campaign that proclaimed: “It’s not a job! It’s an adventure!!” While not everyone’s idea for what constitutes an adventure, taken out of the military context I think it alludes to a mindset similar to your suggestions today. Well conceived and expressed.
Gail we owned a pumpkin yellow Pinto too!