Working Man's Blues

[P.J.]

Well I didn't get sacked at work - even though I took some unauthorized time off. They were calling me but I wouldn't answer the phone. They got mighty mad at that.

But I didn't care at the time - I didn't care if they fired me. I had such a terrible day a couple weeks ago that I wanted to quit. It's a long story and I won't bore you with the sorted details. Just to say that I drive a semi truck - and usually people are nice and easy to work with.

But a couple of weeks ago I had to run into 2 companies in Sussex Wisconsin that treated me like flippin' dirt. I mean down right low down, and mean. Not one, but TWO totally different companies too.

Well I'm no baby about these things. I have pretty thick skin - and I have been abused by customers before. But for some reason this time it really effected me deep down in the soul. Like I felt hurt, and I also felt like I didn't deserve that from any job.

I know that some of you around here have seen what a big mouth I have - and sometimes I like to shoot it off. Sometimes it gets me into trouble speaking my mind like I do.

But acting like a big shot on a loading dock in New Jersey will get you a knuckle sandwich in 2 seconds flat. So I watch it around loading docks and at customer's loading docks.

But I swear to you, as guitar players often do: I provoked no one out there in Sussex. What they did to me was totally uncalled for. I swear it.

But I didn't react to these people's anger. I didn't get mad at them, or yell at them or freak out in anyway. I sucked it all up like a little school boy. So I did the right thing - but it still effected me. All that pent up frustrated energy and no where to release it.

I'm better now, and after I had the meeting yesterday with my company it seems they are receptive to the sitiuation.

I'm not an angry person, not at all. My Mother would be the first person to tell you that I was a very happy baby. And even growing up in Duluth, I loved my childhood and the outdoors and wasn't out in the woods burning cats to death in burlap bags.

When you drive a truck - you meet and have to deal with new people everyday. It's a challenge sometimes, and if you have a short fuse - you'll get no where.

I am starting to feel like there is some sort of anger present in today's society. Must be from all the traffic and all the rat races we face everyday.

I wish I could devote all my time to music - but I feel like I can't. I have bills and rent to pay. It sucks to think that I will never be the musician that I deserve to be. Now that I'm fast approaching 40 I feel like I could have been a great musician - but I fell by the way side of the hum drum Workin' Man's Blues.

And having to put up with driving that damn truck all over the USA instead of following a dream of mine is really depressing. But I guess I'm not as cool as I used to be. .