There’s a multi-story office building going in right next to my light rail station. It’s about 7 stories tall and the structure is largely complete. The light rail stand is level with the third floor.
Nearly everyone waiting at the station watches the construction workers build away. At any given point in time, nearly half of us are turned around, facing away from the tracks, to gaze at the new building. Why?
Is it because construction is fascinating? Definitely. It’s neat to see a collection of materials and labor turn into a tangible object.
Is it because we’re bored and would like to watch construction workers rather than highway traffic and a empty set of rails? Of course.
But I also think, deep down, a lot of us sit here waiting to ride 40 minutes to Denver, to start our 9-5, to do the work that only sometimes speaks to our strengths, only sometimes makes us feel fulfilled, and only sometimes produces something tangible that we can point at and say “look, that’s something I did!”
Something tells me I’m not the only one that envies the construction workers.
great post, devin. this reminds me of a lot of my sociology and history classes from college and the lectures that would discuss the differences between the common working man (er, person) from the past and the common jobs of today. i know what i do at my job is important – but it’d be nice to show off a beautiful, ‘larger than life’, tangible structure, too =)
Totally. I used to work construction in high school. Every summer for last 6 or 7 years I have said “I wish I could quit my job for a few months and just build houses. Get a tan, get a workout, and be able to see my contribution at the end of the day.”
Hopefully I will have a job soon where I feel like I’m building something, even if it is not a house.
You’re a perceptive, guy, Devin.
Thanks guys, I knew I wasn’t alone on this one. ;)
have you gone missing?