I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger
Friday, May 25, 2012 at 5:59 PM 
This morning, half the grand steps in front of the Carnegie Library were blocked off by yellow caution tape. Two men worked, bent over cement equipment. They both wore white t-shirts and deep tans. It wasn't even noon and the heat hung heavy on the shadeless steps.
A mother with young children stopped for a few moments to watch. The toddler, a boy, was especially interested in what was happening. The baby on her hip yawned.
"You do well in school and go to college so you won't end up doing what I do, okay?" said one of the men to the little boy. The man wiped his forehead and chuckled a bit, the kind of laugh that's meant to make serious statements light hearted. His voice was the sound of a thousand cigarettes.
"Hard work," said the mother. "Hard, hard work."
carnegie library, observations, people in life, pittsburgh 
Reader Comments (2)
I work for a construction company, and I always wonder what the labourers actually think of their job. Interesting.
By the time that kid grows up, there will be so few skilled workers who know how to work with their hands that plumbers will be the new 1%.
Hyperbole? Yes. But I do think the idolization of the white collar job is a problem.