In the old days, when there were three people on a survey crew, the boss hired recent high school graduates and college students for the summer. This was common practice as that was the busy time of year with construction layout work. These young people were sentenced to hard labor for 90 days each year as they were routinely called back again the next spring. Most companies paid slightly over minimum wage and the temps were glad to have a job. A few would become full time employees.

Today, while doing some major cleaning of my greenhouse prior to its upcoming renovations, I came across my grandfather’s old pick axe. He was a mason by trade and a builder in northern New Jersey. Both sides of the pick were severely worn down and I would not want to keep it in a truck because you could not use it to open a manhole with those rounded ends. The only reason I keep it is because it was Pop-Pop’s and reminds me of him. I am thankful to have inherited his tool along with his work ethic.