PEACHES part II Contemplating my last bushel of peaches for the season has motivated me to tell the rest of the story about my peach work. I really do want to thank so many of you for your comments, private messages, and phone calls. Sorta blew me away. I appreciate your interests very much. Heretofore, when I write for public consumption, I have two classmates who are kind enough to proof the material. When I write like this, jotting down from memory, I feel like I am winging it on my on, an insecure feeling. So, I would appreciate any additions, corrections, or different perspectives you may have. I am not jealous of my words. What I would really like to read are your experiences. PEACHES part II After three summers working for the Sears in a relatively tranquil atmosphere, four frenetic summer adventures followed with a job at Lloyd Yarbroughs Peach Operations in Clarksville, Hwy 64 East. Pay was about the same at all sheds but Yarbroughs hours were longer because Lloyd handled many orchards, hence, more money could be earned. So, I used the work permit, acquired for after school employment at the Graphic, to get work there. At the shed, new hires started where peaches were poured out (bad fuzz) and started up the conveyor. Next, peaches proceeded through the rolling culling area where cullers separated bad, disfigured peaches from good. Desirable ring-packing jobs were last. A promotion up the line was doubly rewarding, more money, less fuzz, good incentives..................Again, I worked with other good friends, mainly classmates. Collectively, we encountered memory-making experiences, new to us in work and in interpersonal relations. What a bonding experience, maneuvering through these different waters! While many extremely nice people worked there, a miscellany of human diversity did also, the first exposure to such for many of us and mind-boggling to 14 year olds. This environment required deciding if and how to handle, tolerate, abide and/or ignore the different values, language punctuated with spicy adjectives, behaviors, and questionable hygiene of others, excellent life-lessons. It was my first experience in group dynamics, although then I didnt know it was called that, i.e., stick together and you can handle anything! Soon, we were cullers, removed from the floor, and things easier. (Some recollections are funny NOW...asking what certain words/phrases meant, how NOT to respond to certain people, and, for goodness sake! wear long pants or long shorts, not dresses or shorts when working on the culling line!) .................................Each morning the clatter of motors told cullers it was time to jump on the wobbly risers and await peaches. A bell would clang, and, with no sluggish moments, the work day began, continuing with few interruptions except meals. Dealing with a fresh product is tedious and vulnerable, and a little delay can mean a lot of money, and wisely, Lloyd ran a tight ship, so work was performed quickly. Chores were often unpleasant, and tempers and temperatures spiked, and I never handled heat well...still dont. No one had to ask how things were going; watching Lloyd walk across the shed answered the question. Indisputably, he was Master of the Stony Scowl, had an acerbic tongue, and used colorful metaphors in a most fluid way, but if a person focused on work, was reliable, and dependable, Lloyd returned the consideration. For example, every year via band, dance orchestra, and other activities, I was involved in Peach Festival events and had to ask off those days and nights (then, right in the middle of the season). Scared was I to walk into that air-conditioned office and ask, but he always let me off, as he did others. One year, in front of others, Lloyd launched into a loud pronouncement about how he did not mind letting me off because I took my work seriously, stayed with my word, and was dependable, yada, yada, yada. Grossly embarrassed, I told him I appreciated it. Many years later, when operating my own businesses I thought of that, and realized Lloyd was not so much complimenting me, but making a point for other employees who were listening and might take heed. In many, many ways, he was a smart man. During this second year, Virgie Ann Manning Ford (Ann Ford on HF) and Frieda Farris Leeds (and I must mention her sweet mother, Mrs. Fern!) became enjoyable parts of our working crew, and noteworthy for me, it was during this second summer, with Marie Yarbroughs help, I started saving for college. Memorable recollections. .....................Hallelujah! The third season found us, along with too many others, ring-packers, although overstaffing soon would be understood. Comparatively, that job was somewhat easy, requiring concentration and quick work absent the fuzz, cacophony, constant chatter, and confinement of the culling line. The greater freedom of movement meant visiting with non-working friends during break, hopefully cajoling some to bring Sunny Side steak sandwiches for lunch. Often, rock and roll music was on the intercom, which now we could hear. Many things made this year memorable for our crew. First, one (gasp!) was recipient of Lloyds favorite reprimand, a rotten peach thrown at the face/hair! (Can you imagine an employer doing that now?) Another passed out because of lack of sleep. During peak season hours were extra-long, and those hours plus social activities (sometimes after work we would go to the lake where we met friends with food and questionably-obtained watermelons) made staying awake challenging. Then, No-Doz was considered an okay help for staying awake. It was sold like aspirin, and I think that it was aspirin-like in that it contained high amounts of caffeine. We all took it off and on until she was hospitalized for three days. She returned to work, and, thankfully, was fine, but that ended our taking No-Doz. More romantic was when a Clarksville dreamboat, leaving town, came by the line to say good-byes to all, and gave a girl a movie-star zinger of a good-bye kiss. They werent even sweethearts, but we all swooned, anyway. ..............................................There is more to this, but peaches are awaiting, and I can only look at computer screen just so long!!! Will finish later.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:57:56 +0000
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