The Flagmen − 22 July, 2008
One of them reminds me of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” He doesn’t seem quite right. The other one seems normal. The DiCaprio flagman looks by turns miserable, defiant, and in his own world. The flagmen wear denim jeans in 88 degree F temperatures standing on heat-radiating blacktop for hours on end. We all have somewhere to be, and some of us are perpetually running late. Some honk at the hold-ups.
Getting to work because of the construction has become more difficult. Unfortunately, the flagmen are the “customer facing” employees, as we would say in our white-collar world. They take the brunt of any displeasure we express. Fortunately, in my experience, most motorists are cooperating.
I look at these young men and wonder what their dreams are. Surely not standing in 88 degree F temperatures on heat-radiating blacktop. Would anyone choose this job? Perhaps they chose construction because they thought it might be lucrative. I can’t imagine that being a flagman is lucrative. And even if it were, how could it replace one’s dreams?
Many in my office building drive nice cars – big shiny SUVs, new Lexuxes, minivans, and other models of shiny new cars. I always feel a bit less conspicuous in my old model Nissan beater with no driver side rearview mirror, a rear passenger window that won’t stay up, and a driver side window that goes down only when it feels like it. Of course they don’t notice these details. But they can see that the car is a beater.
I have often thought to wave at them, but until today I have not. I was in a good mood today because I got permission to work at home for one day. These days that is a rare luxury. Other days, my morale tends to sink the closer I get to my building. It is more difficult for me to be kind when I’m not feeling well. Perhaps I will learn to wave at the flagmen no matter what my mood. They deserve some sort of recognition.
