Growing Old

When I was starting out in my working "career", I had the usual kid type jobs:  I worked in a Danish Deli on weekends, and during summer break.  I worked for a radiation detection firm (they processed films that measured radiation levels on nurses, etc).  But my first long term job was with Clarklift of San Jose.  They were a forklift dealership - much like a car dealership, we sold and repaired forklifts.  I worked in the service department, doing billing, filing, that sort of thing.  It was an interesting place to work; I was the only female, and there were about 20 mechanics.  Some worked in the shop, others drove vans to get to customers' businesses to repair their forklifts.  Being young, and the only female, I looked on these guys as the older brothers I never had!   And they treated me like a younger sister, and always watched out for me.

As a group, many of them went out to 4th Street Bowl and hung out in the bar most Thursday nights.   When I turned 21, I started joining them.  We jokingly called it "choir practice".  Not sure where that came from, but it's what we did.  Tipping back a few beers, the boys would talk about the jobs they'd had that day.  It was a fun way of sharing information, even a little teaching and training happened when they compared notes on how to fix this or that.  A great sense of camaraderie was created.  Even the boss would join us on occasion.  Since "choir practice" started just after 4pm, it wasn't always easy to last all the way into the evening hours.  At 9pm there would be a DJ and we'd do some dancing.  The boys introduced me to rum and coke, and Long Island Iced Tea.  mmmmm.  But mostly we'd drink beer.

The one thing that stands out the most is what they taught me:  If you're gonna go out and drink with the boys, you can't be a sissy and call off work the next day.    lol

I've thought about each and every one of them over the years since I left.  (I was there from 1978 to 1998).  That's a long time to "grow up" with these men.   Summer picnics and Christmas Parties, where the wives and family were invited, I watched all of their kids grow up.   These men were a special part of my life for 20+ years.   The boss, Ed Show, was like a favorite uncle to me, he was smart and advised me on many things in my career and in my life.  Even after we'd both left the company, we stayed in contact with cards and letters.   Sadly, he died November 11, 2012.

His son, Grant, went into show business, starring in Ryan's Hope and Melrose Place.  He's been in several movies and TV shows, including Grey's Anatomy.  As he ages, he looks more like his father, and has his smile :)

Today, I discovered that another one of these special men died as well; Roger Tauscher in August 2016.   Roger was a quiet gentle giant in my mind.  He was so easy going, the kind of big brother every girl wants in her life!

I know that getting older means more and more people I know have died.  I think it feels so shocking because while our chronological/biological ages are ticking by, in our minds we're still young.  I know there are days when I feel as if I'm still in my late 30s or early 40s.  (and then I try to crawl out of bed after a busy day and I know that I'm not.... lol)

Here's to remembering all the good times at 4th Street Bowl, at Clarklift of San Jose, and all my wonderful "big brothers"  !!