Wife checked out (2)

[2ltl2lt]

As I wrote about on my other thread, I moved to W college town after we had been dating for 6 months. It was three hours away from where we went to high school and a total culture shock for me. A very liberal town with a lot of different types of people that I had never been around. I didn't have any idea where to start looking for a job but she was working after class and had a small apartment already so I had a little bit of time. I am a skilled metal fabricator and know how to cut, weld and fit most anything made of metal and a pretty darn good mechanic too so I figured it would be easy to find something.

One of the first places I tried was an equipment rental company. They were hiring for a mechanic so I stopped in to apply. They had a very complex hiring process, at least I thought so for a mechanic anyway. They actually gave me a Wunderlich test and some other spatial evaluation exams. I scored higher than anyone who had ever been there but they were reluctant to hire me because I was only 20 years old. Said I didn't have enough experience. The next day I found a sheet metal company that worked on commercial kitchen equipment . They needed a guy to drive around town to different restaurants and kitchens to fix things onsite. I took the job even though I had never done this kind of work before but I was young and full of confidence.

Well let me tell you, I took to this like a fish to water. I loved driving around meeting the customers and getting to know my way around town. It was a small company with maybe 8 or 9 employees and it wasn't long before the customers were requesting that I come out to fix their problems. We also built vent hoods and commercial sinks and would install them onsite. I could fix anything. And I got to know all the best places to eat. I worked until 4:00 and would go fishing nearly everyday after work. My W would meet me at the boat ramp and we would stay out until dark. She would bring us Subway samwiches and a six pack of beer. It is one of my fondest memories with her. We didn't have much money but saved enough to buy a small aluminum boat with an electric trolling motor. We loved it.

One of the biggest jobs that we had while I was there was at the airport. They were remodeling the entire Tarmac with new bars and restaurants. I spent nearly five months there everyday building vent hoods in restaurants, decorative metal artwork and bar tops. We built an indoor waterfall out of copper, it was really cool. I built a stage front that spanned 40feet out of stainless steel that had Live Music Capitol of the World laser engraved on it. Unfortunately, since 9-11 the only way anyone ever sees any of this is if you are flying in or out of there since it is all behind the security gates. Anyhow, W had graduated and was ready to move back to our hometown and start her career so we left there and came back to start our lives together.

Until next time!