The "Slab Field"

Shandi's concrete-pouring job at Mississippi Limestone has finally come to an end.  I haven't really known a whole lot about her job, other than she works from Monday through Saturday from 6AM to 6PM, and she comes home filthy, stinky, and absolutely exhausted.

This was always a temporary job, and the contracted job here is finally finished.  Today was her last day, and I drove her to her job site to pick up her paycheck.  I was impressed.   Not with the job site itself or the people, because that in itself was a tragedy, but the fact that my daughter held her own and succeeded at this horrendous job for the past six months is mightily impressive.

My Mother was the "bookkeeper" for the commercial construction company in town that happened to be a family business owned by my Grandfather's sister and her husband.  When I was growing up I spent a considerable amount of time there helping my Mom in the office and just hanging out.  I know that the men that work construction are dicey characters, and the atmosphere is equally as dicey.  It was obvious upon pulling up in the parking lot that these characters were no exception to that rule and my memory was accurate.

I had Shandi take a few pictures because it really was that tragic.  I understood immediately why nobody calls the job site by its name "Mississippi Limestone",  but by its nickname the "Slab Field".  All you can see for acres and acres are slabs and slabs of poured concrete and all the equipment that is necessary to make them.  There is so much concrete dust in the air that it gets into your teeth and eyes and throat the second you breathe the air.  It's disgusting.

I told her to take a couple of pictures so I could add them to the blog.  She did NOT want me to write about it since this experience has not been one of her finest moments.  But I explained to her that she needed to have this documented, because not everybody can handle this kind of job nor this type of environment.  Even though she hated the job, she busted her tail everyday and accomplished what she set out to do.  And one day, when Jack or Justice is complaining about having to get his hands dirty or even when her own kids are whining about not wanting to get a summer job, she can show them these pictures and this post and tell them to man up cause their Sister or Mama knows what REAL work is all about.  

I am trying very hard these days to get the word "proud" out of my vocabulary, but I am REALLY proud of her for doing this.  I'd like to say I can't relate, but my first few years in the Navy were eerily similar.  Dicey characters, long days, sheer misery.  And I made it through with some pretty good sea stories and a strong work ethic.  Although the job was different, the end result for her is exactly the same.  Nobody ever wants their kids to have to work a job like this, but sometimes it's necessary to get the point across.  

Point taken.