Yesterday was a wonderful day. It was my first day off after twenty-four straight days of work. A good portion of those days were split shifts, which I have to admit, I'm not too fond of. They have a tendency to rank right up there with dental surgery.
During this time I went without a day off, I had several people asking why I didn't contact the labor board. "After all," they were telling me, "everyone's entitled to a day off." I thanked them for their concern, but explained that the company was shorthanded, and was doing their best to rectify the situation.
I also knew that if I did anything like what they suggested, the next bit of thunder I'd be hearing would be my ancestors howling up in Heaven. You see, they understood what work truly was like. From listening to stories about them, I know just how easy I have it.
During the Great Depression, my grandfather worked three jobs at once in order to feed his family. Then, he would come home at night and weep, as he was always afraid he'd failed in his mission. He never did. One of these jobs had a dye that he was allergic to, and it turned his arms blue all the way to his elbows. He also put his younger brother through college, buying him a car while this was going on.
My great-great-uncle, whom I've written about earlier, was one of those men who could take what you and I would call 'pieces of junk' and make a go-cart out of it. Not like the ones you see in the store that is returned after a few weeks, but one that would run for more than two decades. He worked for the public schools, the highway department, and had his own farm. An artilleryman in the First World War, he could fit into his uniform when he was in his eighties.
Contrast these two men with people from our generation: A woman was on FOX News recently. She had an impressive resume, but couldn't find a job. She had put out over three hundred job applications, and had yet to be hired. When asked about trying flipping burgers in order to find employment, she stated she wanted to keep her resume 'pure.' In short, she didn't want a job too badly.
I worked with some people who were aghast at the fact they'd been transferred to another department. Didn't the bosses know they didn't want to work in that particular department? I wanted to shake them, pointing out 1) You're not the boss, and 2) If you don't like it, quit. Eventually, they did the latter without my telling them to, but I had to listen to their complaints for months on end.
We are a spoiled people. Things have come too easy for us. And I have to admit, I shudder to think about what the future generation is going to be like. In this day of instant popcorn, the Internet, iPods, etc., we want everything quick, if not now. It's like that stupid commercial where those performers (who really need to take acting lessons) are shouting, "It's my money and I want it now!" When these kids get to work, what a shock they're going to have when they realize not everything is instant.
I miss my grandfather and great-great uncle, but at the same time, I'm glad they're no longer with us. They would be appalled at the lack of work ethic in Americans today. Had they known I worked twenty-four straight days, both men would have simply said, "Good. It'll build your character. But why did you take the twenty-fifth off?"
No wonder I miss them.
http://goodolthisanthat.blogspot.com/2010/10/most-remarkable-man-ive-ever-met.html
