The Tomcat Blog: Just Another Day???

I’ve been involved in maintenance of one form or another for thirty years now. Twenty years as an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force, five years in heavy industrial maintenance at a local foundry and the past five years it’s been light industrial maintenance primarily preventative, servicing and electronic component adjustment. One little thing they all had in common, the equipment was tied up through the weekdays with normal operations. This usually led to heavy repairs or modifications being pushed off to the weekends or even holidays. After thirty years I’ve come to accept the probability that I will have to go into work and take care of big jobs while other people were off enjoying their weekend or holiday so for me these days lost their importance. I kind of got to the point that days set aside to recognize and honor others or events became Just Another Day to me. This attitude caused me to hurt someone’s feelings that deserved much better… My Mother.

Last year on Mothers Day I didn’t call herL I cant remember what was going on with me that was so important that I couldn’t take a few moments to pick up a phone, push a few buttons and say a couple of simple words, Happy Mothers Day, I Love You. I just didn’t do it. A few weeks later when the family got together I met up with her. She pull me to the side and asked why I had not called, she was visibly upset almost to the point of tears. I had no answer but her words burnt into me. I needed to make a change, I needed to improve myself, I needed to be considerate of others. I made a promise to her that it wouldn’t happen again.

This year my wife had flowers delivered (very thoughtful of her) but I needed to take that extra step. I needed to go visit her, take her out for lunch. Show her she is special and she’s important to me.

Management at the plant where I work decided we needed to work this weekend. Must have been test tube babies or hatchlings but then again they wouldn’t be the ones coming in. I thought it over for a moment; I had a choice, take a point for missing a night of overtime or cancel visiting my Mother on a day that would be special for her. I told my supervisor I’ll take the point; I wouldn’t be available this weekend. I’m driving down to Kentucky to take my Mother out to lunch.

I’ve made the change. I’ve reset my priorities. Weekends are still whatever days I’m off but holidays and special days are reserved to remember the people and events intended.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, I LOVE YOU MOMJ