skipper

Marc Miller replied 2 months ago

I’ve only had 7 jobs over my lifetime. Only two, my first as a teen aged elementary teacher’s assistant and my second as a paint factory worker, were not associated with the piping trades.
I worked as a non union pipefitter’s helper and moved into the union pipe trades apprenticeship. I worked as a first year industrial pipefitter’s apprentice before transitioning to industrial air conditioning and refrigeration with the same union. Joining the union was the best move I ever made. I topped out as a journeyman Industrial HVAC mechanic where I stayed employed for 39 years.
In my early 50’s I began teaching part time at the apprentice training school. I am still teaching there after 18 years.
I retired at age 62 with a full pension and retiree health benefits for both, me and my wife. I worked for 3 years for my former employer as a technical consultant and have worked for other mechanical contractors as a consultant on an as needed basis.
Do I remember names? I remember the elementary school teacher I was assisting – Mrs. Lovett, who was married to my elementary PhysEd teacher. I remember my supervisors and co-workers at the paint factory. One of them followed my advice and joined the union. He managed the HVAC systems at the Baltimore Aquarium for over 20 years and will be retiring this year.
Remembering all those I worked with in the union is relatively easy as I am President of the Local 486 Retirees Club. We meet once a month to see who’s still kickin’ and share some coffee and donuts. I do have a hard time remembering all my students names. I’ve probably taught over 500 up to this point. One young lady graduated from the apprentice school with her HVAC and Master Plumbing Licenses and now owns a Plumbing Service Company here in Harford County Maryland. I’ve introduced her to several residents here in the condo building who’ve needed plumbing repairs/services.
To quote the Joe Walsh song, ” Life’s Been Good to Me So Far.”

Marty replied 2 months, 1 week ago

First job 1962 Donnellson Library at .25 an hour. It was also the site of my last job in 2025 at .25 an hour….

Favorite song Where Have All the Flowers Gone? They’ve gone to graveyards, every one.

Favorite tv show The Twilight Zone. A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.

In 1962 President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, were in the White House with Caroline and John John. Before the world turned.

What a long life–what a trip it has been. Thank you, Mariner, for reminding us.
Marc Miller replied 2 months, 1 week ago

First job was working as a teacher’s assistant at Logan Elementary School during summer school. My junior high guidance counselor got me the job. His name was Jackson. It was 1970 and my favorite show was Star Trek. Music? It was a year after Woodstock. Jimi Hendrix, Santana and Ten Years After were the order of the day. My second job was my first full time job working in a paint factory at age 18.
One of the most vivid memories I have is from 2nd grade. Miss Alice Brown my teacher, an old maid, came into the class crying. She announced that the President had been shot and killed. We were told to put our heads down on our desks and remain quiet as she sobbed at her desk. We were off school the next few days. The TV was nonstop news. I was watching the live broadcast when Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald. I couldn’t understand how all those police couldn’t prevent the shooting.
I can’t remember what I did last week but I can remember those events clearly.

The Blog of the Ancient Mariner

The view from dockside

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