I worked hard through my career to get to where I was. I started out as a forklift operator loading trucks and shipping tax forms across the country. After a couple of years, management saw I had mechanical skills so they sent me to the office appliance repair shop (yes the IRS had one of those). I spent nine years unjamming staplers, adjusting mail sorting machines and working on machinery in general.
All that eventually led to a nine year stint as the building maintenance manager. No matter what happened in our building, I was the guy who got the phone call when something went wrong. I was fortunate in having a topnotch crew who responded to any problem and made things right with the world. Then, in 2004, the government said, ”Hey, let’s outsource these guys”. My position was abolished and I faced losing my job, and this is right after we had bought the barnyard and BOB.
Luck held out and I found myself qualified to oversee the maintenance contract that was set up for the contractor who took over all of the building operations. I was saved and given the position of Building Maintenance Specialist/Building Management Consultant. I was still the guy who ran the operations but I didn’t have a crew to be responsible for. This is a somewhat busy at times, slow at others position. I feel I did quite well with it these past seven plus years and really enjoyed the work.
And then today, BOOM, it all came to a screeching halt. I will survive! I walked out the door with my head held high, knowing that I gave it my all. It was no big surprise but it still weighed heavy on my mind. I am looking forward to spending more time working with my Cubs and hopefully getting more done with the walls and floor on BOB.
I knew this was coming; in fact I pretty much brought it on myself a couple of weeks ago, because I’m the one who told the boss, “I’m retiring July 27th”!
