We Call It Work

Imagine if you will, a young man getting out of college, getting married, finding an apartment, and trying to find a new job to support all of this.

Imagine a newspaper going on strike due to it's old hot metal production environment did not want to change to the new cold type production method. Imagine a newspaper printing full page employment ads asking for people to come and replace the picketing Linotype operators.

Imagine a young man taking his lunch break to walk a block to the newspaper personnel department and file out a paper form on a clipboard. Then wait a short time while the form is read. Education - good, criminal activity - not asked, background - sound, white, male willing to work.

Imagine if you will, a young man taken by the head of the personnel department, through the protesting striking Linotype operators, into a gray building, pass the security guards, up the elevator to the second floor, down a short hall into a bland office.

Imagine a young man, in blue jeans and spring shirt, sitting while the head of the personnel department and a plain man in a suit look over the form on the clipboard. People walk pass the doorway in a hurry.

Imagine a young man's surprise at the question from the plain man in the plain suit looking up and puffing on his pipe, "You are hired, can you start today, about 3:00 PM?"

And I thought a job was hard to achieve. No resume. No portfolio. Just a perfect start to a long career in the newspaper industry.

And I'm still here.