SEPTEMBER 2012 - Every day in this world we meet people working at all kinds of jobs. We don't think an awful lot about them, but, on occasion something does click.
For me, it's usually weather related. When it's nasty hot outside and I see the heat waves rising off the asphalt, I can't help but stop and say a thankful prayer that I'm not a roofer. Or, when it's a wet, cold January day, I'm grateful that I don't have to work with busted water lines. I have several buddies who are cops. That's a job I'm glad someone feels called to, and I'm glad it's not me.
The other day I stumbled on one of the jobs that I've never thought about. Not once. Truth is, I didn't even know the job existed.
I was leaving the Walmart parking lot when I had to steer around a semi-circle of orange cones protecting the rear of a storage trailer packed full of what appeared to be a mixture of tools, junk and a shopping cart. Grocery buggy is what I grew up calling them. As I pulled around, the cargo of the dually truck that was pulling the trailer caught my eye. It was piled high with shiny, blue-black rubber wheels.
My first thought was, "what is that?" It was quickly followed by the realization of what they were and, finally, why the guy at the back of the trailer was there.
There is a guy whose job is to replace the wobbly, belligerent, stubborn, uncooperative, broken wheels on the buggies we all take for granted.
His truck was filled to the rim with the wheels, so I figure he doesn't just do this for Walmart. He must be a traveling shopping cart repairman. Who knew?
The reporter mind immediately kicked in.
How did he discover this job?
Did he, one day, say to himself, "Hey, I want to repair shopping carts when I grow up?"
Is it a family business?
How much does a shopping cart repairman make?
Where do you buy shopping cart parts?
For that matter, if you wanted to open your own independent store, where do you buy shopping carts?
I wasn't curious enough to search out the answers to my questions, but I do believe from this point on, I'll be more mindful of my shopping cart.
Rather than be mad when I get one of the duds that won't steer straight, I'll be reminded that there's a guy out there in a maroon dually truck who sure is thankful that my buggy pulls to the left.
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