(no subject)
Job hunting during the great recession was a bitch.
One year ago I was in this position:
01.24.10
http://eldeadcow.tumblr.com/post/351023873/american-analog-set-the-kindness-of-strangers?ref=nf
During my short 5 week stint as a mattress delivery driver, I encountered a ton of generosity and assistance from complete strangers as I drove in and out of Jacksonville’s ghettos, high-rise condos, trailer parks, gated communities and working class neighborhoods.
One guy saw me lugging a queen sized pillow top on my shoulders up 3 flights of steps in a fierce thunderstorm and offered assistance without thinking. People in the most depressed slums where a majority of the city’s homicides take place offered help without even saying a word. It was just this unspoken bond. There was very little conversation, but a ton of interaction.
It’s been a job with a so many intangible rewards, it provided a glimpse of humanity at its finest while supplying a much needed but minimal financial lifeline to get me by while I was getting something better lined up.
Most people I delivered to had an optimistic outlook, they were ordering new furniture because they recently landed a new job, the purchase of a new house, they were new to the area, or they had a kid on the way.
It’s been a very unique experience… it helped me get out of the funk that was my 2009. My new job starts tomorrow, hopefully this will be the last “new job” update I’ll do for awhile. I’d prefer to stay put for a little bit.
One year ago I was in this position:
01.24.10
http://eldeadcow.tumblr.com/post/351023873/american-analog-set-the-kindness-of-strangers?ref=nf
During my short 5 week stint as a mattress delivery driver, I encountered a ton of generosity and assistance from complete strangers as I drove in and out of Jacksonville’s ghettos, high-rise condos, trailer parks, gated communities and working class neighborhoods.
One guy saw me lugging a queen sized pillow top on my shoulders up 3 flights of steps in a fierce thunderstorm and offered assistance without thinking. People in the most depressed slums where a majority of the city’s homicides take place offered help without even saying a word. It was just this unspoken bond. There was very little conversation, but a ton of interaction.
It’s been a job with a so many intangible rewards, it provided a glimpse of humanity at its finest while supplying a much needed but minimal financial lifeline to get me by while I was getting something better lined up.
Most people I delivered to had an optimistic outlook, they were ordering new furniture because they recently landed a new job, the purchase of a new house, they were new to the area, or they had a kid on the way.
It’s been a very unique experience… it helped me get out of the funk that was my 2009. My new job starts tomorrow, hopefully this will be the last “new job” update I’ll do for awhile. I’d prefer to stay put for a little bit.