Has anyone noticed all the work crews around lately? They are EVERYWHERE, slowing traffic and sometimes bringing it to a complete stop all in the name of neighborhood improvement, construction, you name it.
Well, lately they’ve been at my spot on a regular basis pouring a new sidewalk (which is a trip hazard), laying Google fiber cables, installing new traffic lights and repainting the crosswalk at the light (the old one had faded away). I admit, they can be VERY helpful to the community and often bring added benefits to an area once their work is completed.
In the meantime, they can also be harmful to a vendor’s business. For me one day recently that could’ve definitely been the case.
All I can say is, it pays to be nice to people.
Just the day before I’d complimented Dave on his very shiny black truck. The following day, I arrived at my spot. It was all clear, not a worker in sight, but that didn’t last for long.
When the work crew arrived, one of them told me I was going to have to move so they could put their big earthmoving machines on the sidewalk.
Just then a man walked up and gave me a firm handshake and said, “I’m Dave. You said you liked my truck yesterday, and I thought I’d introduce myself.”
I excitedly said, “I remember you. It just took me a minute because I didn’t see your truck!” (Sadly, I often recognize a person’s vehicle before the person/people in it.)
The other worker began to explain that he’d just told me I’d have to move because I was interfering with their work.
Dave said, “She was here before us, right? So, I think we are interfering with her work! I think we can figure out a way to make this work, don’t you?”
The other worker responded, “But boss, she’s…”
After receiving a scathing look from Dave he said, “I guess we can make it work,” though he wasn’t very enthusiastic about it.
Dave told them to take good care of me, and they did!
As the day progressed I told them I was really beginning to feel like a member of the crew. All I needed was a hard hat, jokingly saying I like hats! (You rarely see me without one!) Just then I noticed one of the workers had one that said, “Mama Tried.”I immediately pointed to it and said, “I need that one.” And you can bet I sure did try to get it. Well, at least a picture with it, but unfortunately I was unsuccessful.
Now normally the work crews make me leave, then move the traffic to the middle lane, but instead this time they made it so the traffic had to stop in front of my chair before deciding to change lanes to go straight ahead or turn left.
Eventually they did have to move me and my chair. This time down to the light, where once again, the people had an opportunity to stop. That is, unless the light was green. Not bad, huh?
I got bored just sitting there waiting/hoping people would stop, so I decided I’d go see just how far the work zone went. That’s when I met Patrick. He was the safety officer of the crew. He came up to meet me as I made way to my former place of residence (the Suburban Extended Stay) now known as Rudy’s Studio.
He came up to me and said gruffly, “Ma’am you’re killin’ me. I CANNOT have you walking up and down through here with all this equipment out here!”
I told him I understood, but continued, “In my defense, I can’t exactly walk on the sidewalk, your equipment is on it.” I assured him I’d stay behind the orange cones, but I could tell this was non-negotiable for him.
He did offer to bring my chair to me at the end of the work zone (and near the end of my map badge territory) and I initially, I said “OK,” but after I thought about it, I changed my mind (which is a woman’s prerogative) and walked back toward my chair with a couple of escorts following closely one on each side saying, “We’re going to keep you safe.” And they did. In fact, they kept an eye on me the rest of the day making sure I didn’t get into any more trouble.
Scott (another member of the work crew from upstate New York) managed to keep me hydrated throughout the day. Each time I finished a bottle of water, he’d suddenly appear with another one! I easily went through a six pack that day. (Of water, NOT beer!)
Then, around 2:45 they were FINALLY done for the day. They said it was ALL mine, but before they left Patrick approached me with yet another water and apologized for getting SO upset with me — “But if you’d seen what I have in these streets…” his voice faded.
I told him, “It’s OK. I understand. You were just doing your job.” He said, “Will you just please take this?” (Meaning the water — he even gave me an extra one for my granddaughter.) “So I don’t feel SO bad?”
With that, we went our separate ways.
ThankfulIy I was done for the day too! It was time for me to go pick up my granddaughter from school.
Oh well, as Scarlett O’Hara said, “Tomorrow is another day.” But then they told me they’d be back tomorrow too, UGH!
I think I’ll try to sell someplace closer to my granddaughter’s school. Hopefully it’ll be more productive. I’m certain it’ll be A LOT less running back and forth!
I’m sure the work crew from LA Construction and Drilling to whom this story is dedicated will be relieved that they don’t have to keep me safe for another day!