The trio gathered in front of the sign at the trailhead. It was the same trail they had tried the summer before. Now they were back to try it again, only this time they were better prepared. They were properly equipped with well broken in hiking boots, a first aid kit, energy bars, lunch, and sufficient water for the trip. They were in much better physical shape having walked, ridden bikes, and exercised regularly for the past year. They were more experienced having hiked many easy trails over the past year.
Dexter asked, "Are we ready to go?"
Sarah answered, "You bet."
"Let's get to it."
"All right!" Dexter said, taking the first step on the trail proper.
The two kids followed behind him. There was a slight concern that the trail would still be too much for them. Their memories of their previous time on it had slowly exaggerated the difficulty with each retelling. The step path had become nearly a vertical wall. The eroded portions had turned into canyons.
Will said, "The first half is the easy part."
Sarah said, "I remember."
"It's coming back that is the problem," Will said.
"I've been using the stair-stepper at the gym. I'm pretty sure that it won't be that bad this time," Sarah said with a slight trace of doubt in her voice.
"We'll manage easily, kids," Dexter said.
"I'm sure we will," Sarah said.
Will said, "I know."
They walked a little while until they reached the first washout. They had remembered it being a lot further from the trailhead than it actually was. They stopped and looked at it.
Dexter said, "There's been another year of erosion, but it isn't too bad."
"I don't think it has changed much at all," Sarah said.
"Same here," Will said.
"Do you want to turn around?" Dexter asked.
"No," Will answered.
They continued onward.
Sarah said, "You and Mom have been together a lot."
"I guess you could say that," Dexter said.
"Two lunches a week, a date on Friday nights ... and, occasionally, biking with us on Sundays. I'd say that is a lot," Sarah said.
"It sounds serious to me," Will said.
"I guess you could say that," Dexter said.
A lot of the negative anxious tension in their dates had disappeared only to be replaced by sexual tension. It had been a long slow process, though, and not always an easy one.
At first, Dexter had been reluctant to expose his emotions and had held back. That had slowly thawed. Janet had been patient and understanding, knowing that he had been hurt. Fortunately, he had opened up before her patience had run out.
There was then a period of time where their dates had been fun and relaxed with occasional moments of intense emotions. Issues that had been present in their marriage were danced around, until they had to be addressed. They had both matured since initially getting married, twenty years earlier. Gone was some of the idealism. The rose colored lenses in the glasses of youth, had been replaced by reading glasses.
They had grown apart in ways that surprised them. The sudden change in their financial positions had affected them differently. Janet had become much less concerned with her personal finances, and that had given her the confidence to try new things. She wanted and reveled in her responsibilities in the coffeemaker company. Dexter on the other hand, found that he didn't want to put in that many hours working. He wanted to focus more on family duties, and a social life.
After a while, Janet had started pulling back emotionally. She had discovered that Dexter wasn't the man she had remembered from the early days of their marriage. Nor was he the man she thought she had known during the last years of their marriage. Her primary concern, was that she didn't know the real Dexter well enough to commit to him for the rest of her life. Dexter had been patient and understanding during that time.
Working together had forced them to exist in close proximity. That helped them get through some of the rougher periods of renewing their relationship. What emerged was as much a friendship, as a romance. They had twenty years of shared experiences and, at the same time, they'd had years of totally different experiences. The combination of the two meant there were surprises waiting to be discovered.
The nature of their dates changed over time. They had started going places as a couple with other people. It felt odd for the older couple to double date with much younger couples. Calvin and Samantha were seriously dating, and were talking about moving in together. Amber and Michael had become a couple. Still, they went with the younger couples to clubs, baseball games, football games, theater, and even opera.
Sarah said, "Mom sure seems happier lately."
"Well, she's enjoying her work," Dexter said.
"I think it is more than that," Sarah said.
The summer months had really established some major changes in their lifestyle. Rather than participating in early morning conference calls, and then rushing off to work, mornings had become more relaxed and intimate. They spent time around the breakfast table, talking. Sometimes breakfast lasted an hour.
Janet now made a real breakfast. Gone were the days of frozen bagels. Sometimes it was fresh fruit and juices. Other times, it was eggs and bacon. She would occasionally make a pot of hot tea and they'd sit around eating bread slathered with jam.
Will said, "I think she is just happier about everything."
"Everything?" Dexter asked.
"You know, things like dating you, her job, and her leisure time activities," Will answered.
"That's good," Dexter said. "How about you two?"
"I'm not looking forward to returning to school," Sarah said.
"Why not?" Dexter asked.
Sarah said, "I've enjoyed biking, hiking, camping, cooking, and just relaxing."
"You'll still be able to do some of that when school starts up again," Dexter said.
"I know," Sarah said. "It just won't be the same."
"I suppose," Dexter said. "How about you, Will?"
"I've decided not to go to college this year," Will answered.
In the past, an announcement like that would have Dexter exploding. He hadn't worked so hard so that Will wouldn't go to college. Instead, he held off expressing his disappointment. It was easier than he expected, mainly because Will had dropped hints that he wasn't sure that college was really something he wanted to do.
"So what are you going to do?" Dexter asked.
"I've found a job. I'll go to work."
"What kind of job?"
"I found a job in the produce section of a grocery store," Will answered.
"Really?" Dexter asked.
Dexter was half tempted to ask Will what he knew about fresh vegetables and fruits, but bit his tongue. It didn't really matter what he knew. He would learn on the job and maybe he would learn more than just about produce.
"Yes. The pay isn't that bad," Will said.
Dexter could only guess what the job paid.
"How much?"
"Over twenty-four thousand a year with benefits," Will said.
"That's not bad, I guess," Dexter said.
He was fortunate that he was walking in front of Will so that he couldn't see the frown. Twenty-four thousand wasn't enough to support a family. Of course, Will wouldn't have to worry about that after he reached twenty-five. Still, it would be a tough seven years until that time.
Will said, "I was talking to the produce manager at the local store. He makes close to fifty thousand a year. Any way, he suggested that I go to a community college and take some courses in business, accounting, and management. He said that would enable me to get promoted to his position one of these days."
"That's not bad advice," Dexter said thinking that a little encouragement now would motivate Will to continuing past a community college, and get a Bachelor's Degree in Business.
"I know it's not a glamorous job, but the work is steady and the hours are reasonable. Besides, I figure that people will always need food. There's got to be some job security in that, right?"
"That's true."
Will asked, "What do you think?"
"I never really thought about it as a career. I never ever even considered it. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be an engineer," Dexter said.
"You're disappointed," Will said.
"I didn't say that. I've met people who do that kind of work and they seem to be nice people. It is a service job and that means you're dealing with people," Dexter said.
"The way I figure it is that if a year of doing that is horrible, then I can always go back to school. With a semester or two of community college courses under my belt, getting into a regular college wouldn't be that difficult. I won't actually lose that much by working for a year," Will said.
"You've given this some thought," Dexter said.
Will said, "I have."
Dexter asked, "When does this job start?"
"Next week," Will answered.
They reached the place where the Sarah had twisted her ankle. The three took their time crossing the washout. They supported the one who was crossing to help minimize the chance of injury. They continued along the way without concern. So far the hike was proving easy.
Dexter asked, "How did you find the job?"
Will answered, "That was pretty easy once I decided that I wasn't going to go directly into college. I went around various businesses in the area and looked at the jobs people were doing. I visited gas stations, convenience stores, car repair places, restaurants, and all kinds of stores. You might not think about it, but there are a lot of different jobs within five miles of our house.
"When I found something that looked interesting, I talked to the person doing the job. I asked about job security, salary, and what kind of hours they worked. Some people actually liked their jobs. It was strange because they weren't necessarily the kind of jobs you would think that people might like.
"I spent almost a whole afternoon at a garden nursery. The people who worked there really loved working with plants. They really knew plants. I couldn't believe it. It really sounded like a great job except it was seasonal. That was kind of a problem.
"Finally, I was at the grocery store watching the people working in the different departments. Let me tell you, working as a cashier was out. That was a no-brainer! However, the deli department, the bakery, and the meat department didn't look that bad. The deli department had a huge line and those people were really hopping. The bakery was a little baking, decorating cakes, and dealing with people. The meat department just didn't do it for me. I don't think I'm cut out to be a butcher. The produce department was probably the best of them all. It was nice pace, a little interaction with people, and it wasn't that hard.
"Well, I talked to manager of the produce department about career opportunities and what I could expect from the job. He was quite helpful even though they didn't have any positions open. I guess he liked the idea of someone deciding to do that for a living rather than just falling into it. After we talked for a while, he made a call to a friend of his and next thing I knew, I had a job interview. I got the job."
Dexter was stunned. He had figured Will had put in a couple of job applications and took the first position that offered him a job. It sounded like he had put a lot more energy into it than that.
"How long did it take you to decide on that as a career?"
"I spent the whole summer looking."
"I've got to say that I'm impressed," Dexter said.
"I kind of figured you'd be disappointed that I wasn't going into engineering or business," Will said.
"I'll admit that was my instinctual reaction. I mean, that isn't the kind of job that I ever really considered. I think you went about finding a job in the right way, though. That impresses me."
"So are you disappointed?"
"No."
Sarah said, "I kind of figured you'd blow your stack when Will told you his plans."
"Why is that?"
"Mom didn't look too happy," Will said.
"And you are a lot more reactive, emotionally, than Mom," Sarah said.
"Why do you say that?" Dexter asked.
"The whole divorce thing..."
"You did over react a little..."
"Maybe," Dexter admitted.
"There is a white collar prejudice against blue collar jobs," Dexter said.
"I know," Will said.
Sarah asked, "Why is that?'
Dexter answered, "It's a matter of education. A college degree expands your understanding of issues beyond your immediate environment. It teaches you some skills in critical thinking and problem solving. Now some college graduates are convinced that that makes them smarter than others who haven't gone to college.
"That's not really a modern thing. Educated people who manage others have always lorded it over those who do the work. I guess it is human nature. I'll be the first to admit that it isn't very nice."
They reached the pond and took a moment to set out their picnic lunch. It was simple sandwiches, chips in small bags, and bottles of water. While eating, they continued the discussion.
"You said earlier that people look down on blue collar workers. Does this mean that you won't respect me if I chose to be a produce manager?"
"I'll still respect you," Dexter replied.
"It's just because I'm your son," Will said.
Dexter replied, "No. I came to a realization a lot time ago that blue-collar people do deserve respect. In fact, I think most engineers are like me on this matter. You see when I was growing up, I spent days taking things apart and putting them back together again, to understand how they worked. Another kid down the street, did the same thing. We often took things apart together. However, he did it in order to learn how to fix things.
"He went to work in a garage fixing cars while I went off to college. I still respect him to this day because I understand what it took for him to know what he does. We have a common background that allows us to respect each other.
"Lawyers, doctors, accountants, and business graduates don't have that shared background. Oh boy, do they feel superior. I think some of that superiority colors their view of engineers. We're 'Sons of Martha' and it is our job to keep the world running. That almost makes engineers blue collar as far as the elite are concerned."
"'Sons of Martha'?"
Dexter said, "'The Sons of Martha' is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, based on a story in the Bible. You might want to read it, sometime."
"Remind me about it when we get home," Will said.
Sarah looked up from her cell phone.
"I put a note on my cell phone."
"Thanks," Will said.
Will took a bite of his sandwich while Dexter said, "I used to laugh when I'd hear a middle manager with a degree in business putting down some guy who owns a gas station. The joke is, that the guy who owns a gas station manages just as many people as the middle manager with a degree, and he has much more influence on the bottom line of the business. It is kind of ironic, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," Will said.
Dexter said, "I think in time, you'll discover that when the shit hits the fan, you'll want to be surrounded by a bunch of blue collar people."
"Why?" Sarah asked.
Dexter answered, "Because the guy with dirty hands knows how to do things. The intellectual elite looks down upon them and yet they depend on doers to save them. They look to firemen to rescue them from burning buildings. They call a plumber when their toilet won't flush. They're totally dependent on the blue collar, and, yet, the majority of educated people don't respect them.
"We'd revert to the dark ages without engineers. Modern life would fall apart without the people who can fix things. It would be a simpler and better world if the lawyers disappeared. Fewer accountants wouldn't hurt. Every Harvard MBA could die tomorrow and people would still run businesses."
"That was a good sandwich," Sarah remarked.
Dexter looked down at his sandwich. He hadn't even taken a bite from it. Sarah was finished with hers and Will was nearly done with his.
"I guess I should shut up and start eating," Dexter said.
Sarah said, "I don't know. I've kind of enjoyed listening to you talk. You're saying some pretty interesting stuff. I never thought about what jobs are actually important rather than what just appears important."
Will said, "You've made me feel a whole lot better about my decision."
"You're at the start of your career. You could end up owning a chain of produce markets. That's not impossible," Dexter said. He took another bite of his sandwich.
"Dad has a point," Sarah said.
"I guess I didn't think that far enough ahead," Will said.
Sarah commented, "You've got to learn the business somehow. There's nothing wrong with starting at the bottom and working your way up. Isn't that the American way?"
"I guess so," Will said.
The conversation died while Dexter finished his sandwich. Once everyone was done eating, they cleaned up the area and prepared to continue on with their hike. They spent some time examining the sights to be seen while following the trail around the pond.
It was nice to pause long enough to watch the minnows swimming just off the shoreline. Water striders, skittering about for purposes unknown, defied drowning by virtue of the surface tension that held them above the water. Dragonflies passed by with a humming noise created by the beating of their wings. Birds sang from trees, marking out their territory in song. A bug touched down upon the water and then disappeared in the splash of a fish feeding. There were doe tracks that lead to the water's edge and then away.
The kids watched nature unfold around them. It was like little secrets were revealed to them just by virtue of their attentive presence. They were quiet except for little exclamations upon seeing something interesting.
Dexter enjoyed the shouts of 'Look at that!', 'That's neat!', and 'Check this out!'. To him, it was like applause for making this opportunity available to them. These were things that they should have experienced ten years ago. Maybe it was late, but it wasn't too late.
Will remembered what his father had said about the cattails being edible. He looked around with an eye to see what food was available. It took him a moment to realize there were fish in the pond, birds in the air, and mammals on the ground. He thought back to what his father had said about a survival mindset and began to see the value of it.
The three resumed their hike by heading back up the trail towards the parking lot. Each knew this was the real challenge of the hike. There was little talking while each recalled memories of the last time they had traveled that path. Before they knew it, they had reached the washed out section of the trail. Again, they were careful in crossing it.
After a short break, they resumed the climb. They walked past the minor washout making note of it, but not dwelling on it.
It came as a surprise when they reached the parking lot. The last time it had seemed much further than it actually was.
"We're here," Will said proudly.
"I can't believe it," Sarah said. "I'm not even tired."
Dexter said, "I'd say that we did a lot of the right things on this trip."
"No injuries," Sarah said.
"We've still got water left," Will said.
"I'm still standing," Dexter said.
"This was great," Sarah said.
"We ought to do this again," Will said.
Dexter said, "There are other trails to challenge us. Maybe we might want to try one of them next time."
"Yeah."
"You bet."
Edited By TeNderLoin