Smile

Yesterday I had to travel “up valley” as we say around here. While driving down the highway I was passed, rather recklessly, by what appeared to be 3 very young drivers. I assume they were in high school, as they all had little mementos of their high school football teams written in white shoe polish on their $40,000(+/-) SUV’s. Was I irritated that they passed me? Was I irritated that they were driving an obscenely expensive, gas guzzling hog? Was I irritated that one of them flipped me off ? (I think because the speed limit just wasn’t fast enough). Was I irritated the little bastards had no respect for anyone else on the road? Or was I just irritated their parents must not have a frickin’ clue? I guess the answer is YES to all of those questions.

I immediately found myself reflecting back… way back to those stories you used to hear from your grand parents telling you they remembered having to walk 6 miles, in the snow, up hill (both ways), every day…… bla bla bla.

But I did have a rather humble beginning, when discovering getting a job, meant independence. Some of my first jobs were picking fruit at harvest time, convincing my neighbors to let me rake leaves for money, and I could always make a quick buck with a snow shovel right after a good dump of snow! My first auto was an old 67′ Dodge pickup. (I paid $200 to my grand father for it). No more walking to school or to my first real job, slinging burritos at Taco Bell.

I’ve never been handed anything in my life. I realize you can’t help it if you are born into money…. but I am not a trust fund baby. There will be no family inheritance either. Though I have a couple years of college behind me, I don’t have a degree. I decided it was much more lucrative to work 2 jobs and dump college, then try to maintain 3 jobs, go to school, pay for school and pay for rent.

But fifteen years ago, when I met my husband, I decided I wanted to try something new. That, and I didn’t want to sling another cocktail or burger to anyone that thought they were better than anyone else, ever again.

I taught myself how to type (of course this is debatable given my poor spelling), and taught myself enough of the computer to wow em’ with spread sheets. (Corporate loves that stuff). I learned how to run records at the courthouse. And by a rather creative resume… I got my first job as a Right Of Way field agent. At the time, the only woman field agent AT&T had. Like many women, I’ve worked the same jobs as a man, but made alot less. I may not be the shiniest penny in the ol’ coin purse, but I’m a quick study and I’m more than familiar with the business end of a shovel. (I wash up pretty good too).

I don’t smoke, but if I did, I wouldn’t dump my ash tray into the parking lot of Safeway. I try to be respectful of wildlife, my elders and my fellow human beings. I do an honest day’s work, for and honest day’s pay. And if I’m going to ask someone to “dance”, by using my middle finger as an invitation…. I’m going to put on my dancing shoes. You know what I mean???

Smile