My Birth Certificate says that I was born at 4:10 P.M. on August 18, 1931. Since I hear that the Great Depression began in 1929, I think I qualify as a Depression Baby. At the time of my birth my father was 28 years old and my mother was 23.
My father was a Boilermaker Welder who worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. My father was sometimes furloughed (layed off) by the railroad, but in spite of that we survived due to the resourcefulness of both of my parents. Dad was a Welder and was an excellent one. Welders made a little more than the average Boilermaker. Those chosen to be welders were chosen on the basis of test welds. Since his welds were far above average he was in demand, even when not working for the railroad. During his times of furlough he usually did welding for an independent Machine Shop.
In addition to that my mother was a "Beauty Operator". She did not go to a school of Cosmetology but learned on the job. She knew one thing that modern beauty operators do not learn. It doesn't matter how skilled you are with your hands and other knowledge, what really matters is how you make your clients feel. Operators make their money not with their hands but with their mouths. During my career as a Social Worker and as a step-father I have sent a number of young women and a step daughter to Cosmetology Schools. None of them were successful in that career because they did not have and did not develop the necessary people skills. Even today when I go for a haircut, I get a haircut and nothing else. I have no reason to return to the same operator because they did nothing to make me feel good. For years after my mother quit working at the the Beauty Salon, Women came to our home to get her special attention. Some even came to her after she moved more than a hundred miles away. I will admit that she did have some other hair styling skills that modern operators are not taught.
My father was a Boilermaker Welder who worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. My father was sometimes furloughed (layed off) by the railroad, but in spite of that we survived due to the resourcefulness of both of my parents. Dad was a Welder and was an excellent one. Welders made a little more than the average Boilermaker. Those chosen to be welders were chosen on the basis of test welds. Since his welds were far above average he was in demand, even when not working for the railroad. During his times of furlough he usually did welding for an independent Machine Shop.
In addition to that my mother was a "Beauty Operator". She did not go to a school of Cosmetology but learned on the job. She knew one thing that modern beauty operators do not learn. It doesn't matter how skilled you are with your hands and other knowledge, what really matters is how you make your clients feel. Operators make their money not with their hands but with their mouths. During my career as a Social Worker and as a step-father I have sent a number of young women and a step daughter to Cosmetology Schools. None of them were successful in that career because they did not have and did not develop the necessary people skills. Even today when I go for a haircut, I get a haircut and nothing else. I have no reason to return to the same operator because they did nothing to make me feel good. For years after my mother quit working at the the Beauty Salon, Women came to our home to get her special attention. Some even came to her after she moved more than a hundred miles away. I will admit that she did have some other hair styling skills that modern operators are not taught.
I have two nephews who married cosmetology graduates. They are handy to have in the family but I suspect that they are more homemakers and mothers than cosmetologists.
Recently, while staying at a Marriott Hotel in Vancouver, Washington A number of our family members went to the hot tub at night. While there we met a man who was very verbal. He wanted to know about us, where we were from, why we were in Vancouver, etc. He was really full of B.S. and kept up a constant conversation. We found out he was a successful "Hair Stylist" and had just the type of personality to make him successful in this profesision.
When his wife came in we all noted that her hair style was quite messy. Obviously it was not his hand skills that made him successful, but his verbal skills.
When his wife came in we all noted that her hair style was quite messy. Obviously it was not his hand skills that made him successful, but his verbal skills.
Just this year I sent a long letter to the parents of one of my grandchildren, a new high school graduate, expressing my opinion and trying to discourage her from going to Beauty School, because I know her personality, and her chances of success in this field are very low.
Since I am now 76 years old, a certified coot or geezer as my brother would say, diabetic and with congestive heart failure I may not continue this blog very long, but there are a few more truths that I would like to Reflect. I have survived two open heart surgeries and have a Cardiac Ablation scheduled in about two weeks, so it is possible that no one will ever hear those truths.
DWJ
Since I am now 76 years old, a certified coot or geezer as my brother would say, diabetic and with congestive heart failure I may not continue this blog very long, but there are a few more truths that I would like to Reflect. I have survived two open heart surgeries and have a Cardiac Ablation scheduled in about two weeks, so it is possible that no one will ever hear those truths.
DWJ
2 comments:
You're bookmarked, at least by me. Look forward to reading what you have to say.
i'm optimisitc about hearing those truths...
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