Subject: Re: Politicians Over the Years
I had finished my junior year in college and had a summer job with Shell in deep south Louisiana. I was a “roustabout” (manual laborer) working in the oil fields in the marshes.

It was 57 years for me.... working a summer job after my freshman year in college. It was an Oklahoma company that drilled holes for seismograph crews to shoot. The company (with the perfectly acceptable oil field name of "Ace-Hi Drilling" was based in Tulsa, but they said I could have the job if I could make it up to Owosso Michigan within 24 hours. So I drove to Owosso Michigan and made it in 17 hours.

It was a Shell Oil project. Ace Hi was a sub, as were a few other seismograph drilling companies out of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. A great summer.

Never heard the particular story you relate, but the words could have come out of the mouths of any number of hardbitten characters I worked with.

They tried to get me to stay at the end of the summer. No way.

It was the best of times... and the worst of times.

The best, as well as the hardest summer job I ever had.

Good times.