I was taught the appreciation of hard work more by my Gramma than my father.
I learned at an early age that work was a chore and sometimes a punishment from my father.
I learned at an early age that work was a job and an opportunity to make money and SAVE money from my Gramma.
My Gramma raised a family during the depression. My dad was raised in a strict family that punished him often.
Luckily I had learned the balance between them. It was my dad that always used today’s quote. It was my Gramma that taught me how to use her lawnmower.
Early in my career my dad and I took the Lake Street el into the loop together. When we arrived and before we’d separate to other sides of the loop he’d say,
“Son…you can judge a man by the way he finishes the job.”
Last night I was on my balcony when George rode up the street still littered with the debris from Monday’s storm.
He was coming home from his first job.
George got inside and plopped down on the couch.
He was tired, he was hot…
I asked him how it went and he replied that it was fun, but hard work.
So I hit him with his Grandfather’s quote.
My biggest fear as a father with a special needs kid is raising someone who will be employable.
I might quote my dad often, but I will use Gramma LoLo (Loretta) as an example to teach my children how to be a hardworking person.
Work hard from the moment you start until the end of the day. If you go out boozing the night before unemployment you better be there ready for the number in the morning.
Today is Bloomsday…. If you read James Joyce you know what the day is all about. June 16th, 1904.
GoldBond UP one more day…
