job$ somebody's gotta do...

job$ somebody's gotta do...

                                                       

  job$ somebody's gotta do is a tribute to the late Indianapolis broadcaster, Jim Gerard, and his radio feature, Sounds of the City, heard weekly on WFBM-AM debuting in 1962.  The host interviewed people with jobs held by very few people, such as a jackhammer or crane operator, or, language interpreter. 

   This is the second of two interviews gathered at a recent visit to Half Price Books in Louisville, Kentucky.  The store buys back used books, CDs, records and some games and toys.  Regina and I took two big boxes of books to be sold for what amounted to lunch money on a bright, sunny, Saturday afternoon. 

   I had been to this particular store a few other times and my first impression has never changed.  The atmosphere has always reminded me of a combination of a flea market, yard sale, and, State Fair.

 John Eskridge was wandering the aisles when I saw him.  I walked up to him because he had an extremely confident look.  I can't pinpoint it, but, he just seemed to walk with an air of confidence.

  I approached him and identified myself before explaining my reason for interrupting his afternoon.  After a minute or two of light banter, he agreed to an interview. 

  I worked 41 years as a lineman for Louisville Gas and Electric, he said.  

  Oh, so that's why you are such a confident person.

  Do you think I am confident? he asked.

  Most definitely.  Now, I know why.  I think anyone who worked around power lines for 41 years has to have left the job as a confident person.

  I never thought of it like that, but, I can say I had some close calls over the years, he said thoughtfully.

  Hard to imagine doing that job without some close calls as you call them.  What is a close call?

  Oh, touching two wires that shouldn't even be within a foot of each other, or, accidentally coming too close to a hot one, he responded. Touching a hot one when it's not supposed to be hot. Lots of ways to be a close call.

  And, that's an everyday thing, right?

  You might say that, he agreed.  I spent my days handling 110 to 33,000 hot volts.  Close calls are normal at times.  You just have to pay attention every minute you are up there.

  Not a job for a day dreamer. .

  It's really a life's choice more than a job, John philosophized.  You have to come to terms with it early in your career. 

  In addition to your normal work hours, it is a whole different ballgame when a blackout or severe storm comes sweeping down on us.  Am I correct in saying that?

  Definitely, John concurred.  

  Can you give me an example of an especially bad situation?

  I've been asked that question before and whenever it comes up, I always think of the snowstorm back in '96, he recalled.   

  I don't remember any of the particulars.  Would you refresh me?

  I'll never forget it, he responded.  We had 10 to 12 inches of snow and high winds.  Snow drifts around 10 feet high too. I think it was about the middle of the week.  Parked cars were buried, just getting around was a challenge.

  Can I say you worked beyond your normal eight hours?

  Ha, he laughed,  I worked 56 straight hours before I was allowed to go home.  But, I wasn't alone.  A lot of guys had to work those hours.  We removed tree limbs from power lines, putting fallen lines back up, trying to restore power all over the city.  The whole experience was incredible.

  Do you have someone who has shared these experiences with you?

  I do and we've been married 49 years, he said.  We've got two sons.  Our oldest son lives in Missouri so we travel down there quite a bit.

  Any place else you would like to see?

  I want to see New York City is about the only place, he replied. 

  Are there any particular hobbies you enjoy?

  I golf and bowl, he answered.  

  Are you competitive at either one?

  I can swing my clubs, he chuckled.  I get my monies worth.  

  John, I appreciate your time.  Thanks.

  Sure. 

  Coming up:  another oddities, observations & ?'s; a POS, and: an interview with a man who owns a different kind of business. 

  And, finally:  Pete Hegseth, United States Secretary of Defense. 

  HUH?  What's up with that?