In the most western part of Hamilton County is a small piece of Americana, a wonderful little amusement park. Old and young electricians alike gather for their picnic each year. We arrive around noon, and the grills are fired up, the rides are running, and the beer is already flowing from the taps. Ears of corn have been strategically placed and covered in burlap to be perfectly steamed. Children are filled with excitement as they race to The Electric Rainbow and then to The Viking Ship. The soft serve, snow cones, and cotton candy are all free. The kids fill up on treats and somehow their stomachs never flip and turn with the rides. I’m working on my second round as I check out the prizes. I dream of winning the big Yeti cooler, but I never do. I say hello to the business manager; I tell him great job on the picnic this year. We are cordial with each other, today is a day for positive vibes only. As I walk towards the guys selling the t-shirts, someone taps me on the shoulder. It’s my old classmate Dale. “How long has it been?” I ask.

“At least ten years.” Dale says with a chuckle, ” Remember that time you sunk the company truck in the mud. They barely drug it out with the lull.”

“You need to get your story straight; I was in the passenger seat. Besides that,” I laugh, “Mannequins don’t know how to drive!”

” That job was like no other, I’m glad we took that call together.” Dale says this as he pats me on the back. We talk a little more and before he walks off with his wife, he says it was good catching up with you.

The crowd has doubled, and the picnic tables are filled. The children are running around with sticky hands from the cotton candy. They get into innocent mischief; the kind of stuff the parents can ignore because they are catching up. It’s beer four for me and I mosey over to the rides to find my kids. I take pictures of them as they spin around in the Tilt-a-Whirl. They are having the time of their lives, and I am having a proud father moment. As they run over to me with excitement, I ask them if they are ready for lunch. Hamburgers, brats and metts, and of course corn on the cob are all on the menu today. Also, there are veggie burgers, for those who imbibe.

The cornhole tournament is well on its way, I’m on beer number seven. I watch as a bag is lofted into the air, it comes down on the board with a crack. I walk into the event hall to get out of the heat and pick up a bingo card. I sit next to a couple of old timers and ask them if they are enjoying retirement. Ray says he has more time for golf. Tom shakes his head, “You spent more time on the green than you did at the jobsite.”

Ray took off his glasses and started cleaning them, “Well… You might be right. Now I don’t have to call off when I go.” Ray looked my way,” How’s Meiner Electric treating you? Are you running work now, Jimmy?”

I don’t bother to tell him I go by Jim now as I clear my throat, “I’ve been a foreman for a few years now. I’m not ready for the big ones yet.”

Tom intervened, ” Oh nonsense Jimmy! You’re smart and have a good eye for detail, besides that, I taught you everything I know.”

Ray laughs, “What is that, Tom? ”

I tried not to smile as I thought things never change. ” You wouldn’t believe these apprentices nowadays! They are so sensitive, they can’t take a joke. Just the other day…”

Ray and Tom both chuckle, “That’s what we thought about you and your classmates. ”

Ray continued,” I didn’t think you were going to make it the first week, the way you were crying about the portalets. I realized you were determined because you kept coming back. You just have to find out what makes the new guys tick. “

“I suppose you are right.”

A voice called from the front of the room, “B 16! B16”

Tom jumped up, ” Bingo!”

Ray leaned over to me, “That’s the fastest I seen Tom move since our old foreman walked into the room at Great American.”

Things just never change. I tell them that it was good catching up, but I should find out where my family ran off too. We shake hands and I step back out in the heat. The sun has set and the park is colored with the neon lights of the rides. The kids are tired but happy and my youngest says it might be time to go. My wife says she will drive and my kids are talking about next years picnic. This year I won some fishing gear but I did not win The Yeti.

I’ll see you on the next one.