That job was something else

This time of the year always reminds me that at a few different times, I, like many “snowbirds,” have spent a few winters in warmer climates. One of those winters was spent in Northern California in a town named Antelope.

I was living in Florida, and while my band mates were back in Australia, I decided to venture way west to spend time with my childhood best friend and his wife.

That trip was supposed to serve a dual purpose. A. I needed a change of scenery and B. I needed to find some work.

What was supposed to be a job hunt ended being a time of me walking two miles to the local gym everyday and working out for hours. So I was in shape, but without a job.

I also played drums for a local church on Sundays and sometimes during work hours, but as time passed, I still failed to find work.

Until one day I was contacted.

So I went through with the gig.

I’ve had plenty of jobs that have had their highs and lows, but this one was probably the most intense. This job is a job that could be on Mike Rowe’s Dirty Jobs.

I was helping a friend with his crawl space encapsulation business and was on the frontlines as an installer.

There were always four or five installers on the worksite, so seasoned workers were there to answer my questions and help me along the way.

The point of a crawl space encapsulation system is to keep underground moisture from damaging a building while keeping rodents and bugs down as well.

Working with that company for a week or so, I found out really quick that I am mildly claustrophobic. I also prayed nearly every moment that God would hold off the earthquakes, so I didn’t die under a building.

It was definitely a good workout though. Imagine crawling on your stomach all day. Like a snake. Yup I did that. It was muddy, hot, confined, confusing (at first) but I was grateful for the work.

Would I pick that as a career? Nope, but I’m glad it happened because it has made every job that I’ve worked since then seem like more of a blessing. But I did love that paycheck after the crawling was done. Definitely worth it.