By Martin Rice
Welding Instructor
Dale Jackson Career Center
Lewisville, Texas
Iron Workers Local #263

Mick woke up and groggily looked around to see where they were.  It was grey outside with drizzling rain and nothing was familiar to him.  He could only see a few hundred feet because of the rain anyway.  He faded back into as restful a sleep as one could get in the back of an extended-cab pickup.  The next time he woke up he heard a terrible version of BJ Thomas’ Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head song, and he could’ve SWORN rain was falling on his face! 

As he began to awaken, he heard Harry singing and saw him dipping his hand in a glass of  cold beer and flicking it at his face.  “HEY dad gum you!  Knock it off! And where the heck are we anyways.”

“Well hey little sleeping beauty!  You managed to sleep through your turn of driving, so I got us a hotel room, some burgers, and a six-pack to split.  Only thing is, I had to open one of yours to wake you up with.”  Harry didn’t even look tired and Mick never could understand how he managed to make it on such little sleep.  Five hours and Harry was ready for a new day.  Mick had slept a solid eight hours and was still tired.

“Where the heck are we?” Mick asked looking around.  He noticed some mountains and wondered why he saw mountains.  He didn’t remember any on the way to Florida from New Mexico.  

“Manitou Springs, Colorado!” Harry exclaimed with a big smile. 

“WHAT the…? I woke up almost in Texas just a few hours ago!  How the heck are we now in Colorado?” Mick was more confused than annoyed.

“Well, you remember that little vote you took when we were heading to California?  You know, while I was asleep you said it was one to nothin’ to detour through Las Vegas?  Well, while you were asleep, I took a vote on taking a few days off.  It was one to nothin’ to go see Pike’s Peak.”  Harry was smiling so big Mick thought his face might break.

Mick knew it was no use arguing with Harry when he set his mind on something, so he didn’t even bother bringing up the fact that they were adding over 300 miles to the trip.  When they stood at the top of that mountain the next afternoon he was glad he hadn’t.  It was something they both needed…time off, clean air and no schedule to keep.

Welding in the Iron Worker’s union can be dangerous and it can be rough.  There’s times when there is no work and you have to pack your bags and find it.  But there’s other times when the work is plenty and you can just go wherever you want, whether it be for a few days or a few weeks.  Heck, some guys who follow the shut-down jobs take off a few months and still bring home big bucks. 

The key is to save at least 10% of every check for those rainy days when there is no work. And max out those 401 K plans by having it deducted right out of your paycheck.  That way you don’t see it and don’t blow it.  And for that matter, sock away 3 grand in an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) every year.  If you’re married and your wife works, she can put in 3 thousand too.

Mick had blown his share of money in his younger years and was glad that he finally realized to start saving.  His pension would be nice, but it’d be even nicer to have some extra saved up.

“Can you believe this is higher than 10 or 11 Empire State Buildings?” Harry lamented.  He looked up at the clear blue sky and added “Our buildings ain’t nothin’ compared to His!” 

“And do you realize some gal wrote the lyrics to America the Beautiful after climbing up here?” Harry asked.

“I’m sure Katherine Lee Bates would be very happy to have you refer to her as some gal!  And the only reason you even know that is because you just read it on that sign over there.” Mick said still gazing out at the view. 

“I should have known I couldn’t give you a pearl of wisdom without you being Professor Mick Wisenheimer!  Let’s go eat and hit the hotel. 

Mick was ready to get another night’s rest in a real bed. Sleeping in the back of the truck saved money, but it sure was hard on the back.  He started to wonder about the job in Florida then dismissed it from his mind.  Right now he was going to enjoy their time off to the fullest!