I have a confession. I love to watch men at work. Not just any men, but what were once referred to as workingmen. Now, this post is not intended to denigrate the efforts of corporate managers, lawyers, or top sales professionals. But I feel compelled to pay homage to the guys who work with their hands. They are often invisible to the rest of us citizens and all too often looked down upon.
During the past few months,at a nearby strip mall, I’ve had the opportunity to indulge my predilection for observing working guys in action. For the 10 years I’ve lived in North Central, this little shopping center has looked sooo ‘60s. You know. Permastone facing, globe lighting, and those weird-looking curved roof supports. Then, in November, teams of guys showed up and began the work of creating a shiny new retail paradise.
At least twice a week, I’ve found an excuse to play sidewalk superintendent. It’s been a joy to hear the snap-snap-snap of nail guns and watch the workers as they focus so intently on what they’re doing. There’s so much groovy stuff to see—roofs demolished, electrical cable pulled, lathing and dry wall mounted. Really much more fun than one girl should have. As I see it, they’re creating order out of chaos, which is not unlike the act of writing.
My recommendation? The next time you want to see purposeful activity and smart, hardworking guys, check out the nearest construction site.
Leave a Comment