I see the job report came out today and we added 18,000 new jobs last month. We need to generate 175,000 new jobs per month just to handle new young people entering the work force. Then, and I emphasize “then”, we can begin to re-employ all the 20 million people who were laid off or lost their jobs during the recent recession.
I look around and I don’t know where all the new jobs will come from. I’m sure our representatives in Washington, D.C., will continue to work in our best interest.
With all the parades last weekend, I am reminded of Grandpa George and his love of trains and steam engines. In his later years, George and Nana made several pilgrimages to Minnesota to the annual “Steam Engine Exhibition”. Steam engines were big black belching pieces of black iron that ran on coal or chopped hunks of wood. You would see the engines on farms during harvest time with a wide flat belt driving other machiney like thrashing machines and conveyors. They were powerful slow moving tractors that smelled like train steam engines. When you blew the whistle on the engine, it could deafen you.
There was a Sheboygan parade when Grasshopper No. 4 was 4-5 years old. Grandpa and Nana joined us at the parade. George couldn’t wait for the old steam engine to pass by. As it approached, it blew it’s shrill whistle. Grasshopper No. 4 covered his ears and ran away from the parade in absolute panic. I guess when you are surprised as a little kid that can happen.
I secretly thought about trying to find an old, used steam engine when Grandpa George retired and have him restore it to good condition. George knew boilers and steam systems. He loved heavy duty equipment. The thought passed as the dollars to purchase parts became apparent and then, where do you put a big steam engine so that you can work on it. It would have been an interesting project.
The steam engine was just a passing thought, but every now and then I think how much fun it would have been to see Grandpa George and his restored steam engine in a parade.
Love,
Dad