The weekend! Almost...

It is almost the weekend! I cant help but be completely excited! This weekend will be an excellent weekend. This weekend will involve resting and planning. Seriously, that has to be a wonderful thing.

The New York trip went well, actually. I stood around watching 2 - 3 men work and swear for 3 days. While the gruff language is initially intimidating, it is mostly just a cultural difference. Even in Midwest life, swearing seems to have been reduced from offensive to vulgar. And what is vulgar in Grand Rapids isn’t always vulgar in New York. But there is a bit of a difference between the work done here and the work done there. We use drills and riveters; they use f-ing drills and f-ing riveters. I think theirs might have more power.

Was there more down time than I expected? Yes. Was I frustrated by the down time? Maybe. However, I saw a spark in the men that I was working with. A spark of ambition, pride of work. While they don’t have the same skill sets as the ones building the panels, they had a deep desire to make the panels as well as they are made in the factory. They were willing to do the work correctly, but lacking some of the skill sets and tools needed. How refreshing to find union workers with ambition and character. And believe me, they had character!

I spent some time wondering around the city one night. And I did not find what I expected. I expected to see a city made up of individuals who know their place and purpose in the world. Individuality. Confidence. What I found instead was a people who are trying to carve out a life for themselves in a city that could swallow you whole. Is this further evidence of the God shaped hole? I think it might be. 

Coming home was a bit of an adventure. After work on Wednesday (I was the last one to leave the site. The security guard got to know my name.) I spent some time reflecting in the park by City Hall. It was pretty. Anyways, I took a cab to the airport. Unfortuneatly, I didn’t handle it very well; pretty motion sick. Diesel fumes, rush hour traffic, sensory overload! So I made it to the airport and took a few minutes to recover. Thankfully, I didn’t puke. Thank you Jesus!

After recovering well enough, I tried to check in. Couldn’t, no reservation. Excuse me? I pull out my email confirmation. Wouldn’t you know it? I had booked the return flight for October 14, not September 16. Oh. No. I guess that’s why the flight was so cheap, eh? So I talk to the lady at the desk. “Yes there is a flight leaving tonight. But there is going to be a $950 fare difference. I do believe that you made an honest mistake, so I’m going to waive it for you. Just don’t do that again.” Are you kidding me??? How marvelous! How spectacular! Thank you Jesus again! The Lord saved me from a $1,000 stupid tax! Holy crap!
And that is how I got home from New York last week.