First Job Search

[Rmarsh]

So I show up on time the next morning and see that none of the other guys have. Then a work van with a sign on the side that says "Jiffy Clean" pulls into the parking lot. The driver, a black man with a big smile, says "#^&#^&#^&#^& man....its just you?.....C'mon hop in". Joe introduces himself and seems like a real nice guy...says he has some cleaning jobs for "us" ...but first we're going for breakfast. We go to a little place in a Cape Verdean neighborhood not far from where I grew up, where he is obviously a regular. "That your new help, Joe" an older patron asks. He laughs and says. "That's right" as he pays the check for our meals. I'm starting to like Joe, he seems like good hearted guy and freindly...not a miserable prick like the boss at the sawmill job I worked last summer.

[Rmarsh]

When I applied for a job at the sawmill the previous summer, I could tell right away, the owner was an #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&. "Whats with the #^&#^&#^&#^&ing long hair?" he asked. "Thats the style now I said". "Well you better keep it covered when you show up for work here" he said.
It was 11 miles from home to the sawmill and hitchhiking and walking were my only options so I would be a little late some mornings. There was a guy working in the shop, separate from the sawmill, that lived near me.
He knew I worked there too, but would drive past me on his way in. I approached him one day and offered to pay for gas if he could give me a ride. "No" was all he said. I'm starting to realize no one is required to help me, and I have to find my own way. But with a forty hour week paycheck of $44 it was not going to be easy.

[Rmarsh]

Joe, my new boss at "Jiffy Clean" was driving us to a job he had lined up with a big company at the industrial park, explaining that he would get me started cleaning but had to leave to go look at some other jobs.

Polaroid was a thriving company back then with a very large facility and thousands of good paying jobs. Besides the very large main building, there was a separate building Joe called the power plant. We went in, got visitor passes and Joe talked to the supervisor, who showed us to the burner room. On our way through the facility I was amazed how clean and bright everything was, with all the employees wearing hard hats, safety glasses, and white jumpsuits.
The control room looked like something from NASA, with a crew of union workers, going through their daily routine. They opened a sealed door for us that gives access to the area between the huge main boiler/furnace and a massive brick chimney. The job was to clean that area of all the ash and soot that had built up on the floor and walls over time.
Joe brought in the shovel, broom and barrels I would need to get started and quickly left.

I realize I'm just rambling here, a bit cathartic for me as I look back at my work history of nearly 50 years, and forward to retirement. Thanks for listening.