The Missing Power Cord

Today was a beautiful late November day here in the mid-atlantic region. It was sunny and seasonally warm. I think it got up to 62 or so. Very nice day, indeed.

My day got off to a rough start as I arrived at my first job. I was connecting services in an apartment building at a retirement community. I don't know what was going on there, as I visit the place routinely to use their easy-access bathroom; but there was no place to park anywhere near the entrance to the facility. I also know that the facility has tight security. You need to gain access from someone inside. I parked the van, grabbed all the stuff I thought I would need for the first phase of the job and hiked to the entrance. There were people gathering in the chapel, in the hallway, and no one in the office where I would normally sign in during the week to gain access to the apartments and the electrical room where the connection box is located.

I hiked back to the van and called the phone number listed on the order to ask for access. A woman answered the phone. I identified myself as the cable guy and explained my problem. I could tell she was somewhat 'grouchy' by a subtle tone in her voice. She told me she would come get me at an agreed-upon door. I walked up to the door and a smiling woman was walking down the hallway, she gladly opened the door for me. I asked if she was the woman I had just spoken with on the phone. She said, 'no.' I told her I was the cable guy and needed to get to apartment 111 and the electrical room. She gave me directions and I immediately went to the apartment. I knocked on the door to no answer. Ugh.

I was smart enough this time to have brought my phone with me. I dialed the number and the woman answered the phone. This time the attitude was palpable. She said, 'I walked all the way out to your truck!' I told her I was at the apartment door. Ugh.

She hiked back to the apartment and let me in. When I first spoke with her on the phone I advised her that I would not only need access to the apartment but the electrical room as well. I had never been to the facility before on a Saturday and had no idea who to contact for such access. That need of mine added to her morning angst.

A week from tomorrow I will have been on my job for twenty years. I still haven't completely wrapped my head around that. To me that is a REALLY long time. It kinda scares me. During this time I have met and had to deal with a lot of people; mostly in their homes. No doubt, it's been quite an experience; especially since I am NOT one of 'them.' <'them' = born/raised in Lancaster County...wink> I am sure I have mentioned here before that I am, thankfully, from a culture other than this local one. Over the years I have come to realize how open-minded I am and think I have developed some well-honed people skills. This first Saturday morning job was definitely going to present some challenge; I knew that from the first minute.

I wish there was an emoticon/avatar of a cowboy blowing off the top of a smoking pistol. I nailed it!

She and I ended up talking about skiing, Vermont. At one point she asked me, 'Anyone ever tell you that you look like Richard Dreyfus when he was younger?' I blushed and told her, 'no.' By the time I left she told me what a pleasure it was to meet me. It will always make me smile to turn things around like that. I'd like to think I am an inherently good guy and I thank my parents for that. I'd like to think they would be proud of the fact that by me just being me; it shows. I'm not a parent but I suppose there is no greater gift that a parent could pass along to a child.

Soon after this job I moved onto another. This job was in a very nice apartment/townhouse complex that I have worked in many times before. I was greeted at the door by a very nice and friendly man. He immediately introduced himself and shook my hand. I'm sorry to say, I don't pay much attention to names as I am conditioned by my military family back round to instinctively refer to people as either 'Ma'am' or 'Sir.' I told him that.

His friendly introduction was a giant red flag to me that he was not originally from 'around here.' As I went about the job we were very conversant. He talked about his many travels but mentioned that he returned here as, 'there is no other place like it.' He mentioned that he does not like the Amish people but he liked to hear the 'clip/clop' of their buggies on the road. No doubt, he was an interesting man.

Somehow in the course of the conversation he mentioned the name of the town in PA where he was born. Amazingly, it was a town up in the central mountains 50 miles or so north of here; five miles or so from the town where my mom was born and raised. In Pennsylvania that is a world away. Those of us with roots in that area will talk to anybody, unlike the locals here! Needless to say, we had a nice talk. He had moved to this area when he was a young child. I was some years older when I landed here but interesting how I connected with him personally; knowing we had roots in the same area.

I was there to connect him to the internet and provide high-definition TV service. I got everything all set up and then realized not only was the TV not plugged in; there was no power cord connected to it. The poor guy called his friends who helped him move and no one was sure where the cord was. I advised him that he could drive a mile up the road to Radio Shack to get one. His internet was good but I am sorry to say I never got to show him the TV as he was missing the power cord. He was a really cool and nice guy I felt bad leaving the job 'incomplete.'
Ugh.

He was one of those rare people I meet on the job that I would consider knocking on his door 'cold' someday if I was in the neighborhood. There can be no doubt that he is 'not from around here' as I am sure he would open the door, smile, shake my hand, call me 'Kieth' , and invite me in. He was one of those customers that I smile thinking, 'I got paid for that?' It was the same with the woman this morning.

I am very lucky to have a job where I can have fun while performing it. It's always good when the chemistry is good from the start. Fun to mix-it-up when it starts out poorly and make it turn out well, too. All's well that ends well, no doubt.

Just some reflections on my work day.

Hope all's well with everyone.

The Hidden Face of Amishland

I had seen a picture of this seasonal holiday display in the newspaper. Someone in the community had expressed dismay over it. The newspaper went out and photographed it and published a small photo with the letter to the editor. I had forgotten all about it. Today I happened to be working in that area and I drove past it. I had a quick job just up the road. I had to stop and take some pictures for myself.

You can click on the images to read the tombstones. Clearly, a message of hate. The saddest part is the display is directly across the street from the community elementary school. I am sure the home owners are gun-toting church going folk, ya know? Seems to me, Mr. Obama hit-the-nail-on the head last year during the primaries. These are exactly the people he referred to in his recorded remarks. They live here. Here in the 'bizarro' world of Lancaster County; they are 'proud patriots,' too.

To me the display represents the hidden face of 'the County' laid-bare. The locals like to pride themselves on their sense of community, their families and their Christian faith. To me the display represents what I have often told my friends about the intolerance of the local culture. There are people here that 'scare' me. The joke goes, 'not only don't they know what's over the next ridge; they don't care, either.' As long as their 'clan' has all that they need materially; there is no need for any consideration of anything else. I'm from a different backround. I believe in a wider collective 'sense.'

There is some irony, too. I would think if you would have the audacity to put such a public display outside your home you would be sure that everything was spelled correctly. These people did not; hence, their ignorance clearly shows through. Arlen Spector? Saddam Husayn? Enough said.

When I saw the photo a few weeks ago and read the accompanying letter I was happy to see that at least someone in the community called it out. Good example of why I stress to those that know me that I live here; I am NOT 'from' here. The holier-than-thou hypocrisies in this local culture are beyond my moral compass. The community presents itself as 'pure' and 'simple.' Seems that only applies if your horizons are limited, too.

As a transplant, out-sider from a very different cultural backround and critic of the locals after years of observation; I can't think of a finer example of the hidden face of Lancaster County than the pictures you see above.

People will tell you what a 'nice' place it is.

There you can see for yourselves the hidden face of Amishland.

The display is directly across the street from an elementary school.

In my culture they would be teaching it is a display of ignorance.

I'm very sorry to say, here?
Who knows?

It is very sad, indeed.

One Year Ago

High Line

Photos from improved Times Square

Breaking the Ice

Just a few new shots of Henry unhappily wearing a rugby shirt I bought for him in the City this past weekend. Normally, he bolts for the door when he sees me heading towards it. He loves the backyard and wants to go out there. With his shirt on he wanted no part of being seen outside. I had to entice him to come out onto the lawn a few feet from the concrete patio. A clear display of that genetic 'pug attitude;' he does have some pride. Bless his heart, I made him do it anyway. I am thinking he is over it now.



As I have often written before here, I often have fun with the customers I work with. I want people to be comfortable with me being in their homes so I want to relate with them on some conversational level. I feel good when I leave a job and know I made the people smile.

This morning a job appeared on my phone. It was not among the ones I had paperwork for; those originally assigned to me before I left the office. It was an internet out-of-service. It was a higher priority than the other morning work I had. I immediately headed in that direction.

The home was located along a heavily traveled local highway just outside a small town. The house was atop a small hill at the end of a long curving driveway. I noticed when I pulled into the drive that the morning paper was there by the highway entrance. I stopped my work van and got out and picked up the newspaper. I carried it with me to the front porch as I rang the bell.

A very nice woman answered the door. She knew I was there for the cable as she invited me in. I handed her the paper and she said, 'That was very kind of you.' I smiled and said,'ma'am, that's because I am NOT from around here.'

Not only did she smile, she laughed; almost to the point of tears. She finally said, 'Neither are we!' She obviously 'got it.' She said, 'Isn't it sad. It's almost like they are missing some 'social' gene.' Then I laughed. Needless to say, the ice was broken quickly and we had a nice talk as I went about my business. I shared many of my observations of the local people's culture. She knew I had a good 'read' of it. It was very nice to meet her. I had fun talking with her. I left with a smile on my face; I know I made her smile, too. One of those little rewards that fuel my love of my job.

Every day is a new adventure; and I like the cool people I sometimes have the good fortune to meet. wink

Hope all's well with everyone.