A good job

Working at the machine shop here was one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done. It was dirty and noisy, boiling hot in summer and freezing cold in winter, but there are few jobs I’ve ever loved more. When I started I told Mark, the owner, “I can’t believe this job exists. I thought that all of these jobs had gone to China, or were being done by robots, or were being done by robots in China.” Small manufacturers should not be a dying breed, they should be an integral part of our identity as well as our economy. My Aunt Brenda in Thibodaux still talks about driving all the way to Fairhope with my Uncle Dick to pick out a grandfather clock.

All of our businesses need our support, from the Professional Buildings to the really great breakfast places. For my part, I plan to look out for those that make things, and teach young people the joy and satisfaction that comes at the end of a hard day’s work.