Blog #8

Mike Lefevre was a laborer, he worked in a steel mill. This was around the time of the Depression, so he referred to himself as "a dying breed" (319). Not many people were doing manual labor anymore because of industrialization and the nonexistant job market. He explains how he can't get excited about his job, because all he did was pull steel when he just wanted to sit down. He sure has his head on his shoulders, because he seems very knowledgable about how to handle himself in front of his kids. "I feel bad, I can't take it out on the kids. Kids are born innocent of everything but birth. You can't take it out on your wife either" (324). This shows that he is a respectful guy, and he thinks about others before himself. He also wants to raise his kids right, because he said that his kid is his imprint and he wants them to be successful and happy, not like he turned out to be. The thing is, he had to work so hard in order for his kids to have a chance in the world, you know? He sees potential in his kids, and that is the motive of the working man. Money was tight for Delores Dante, "My husband and I broke up and he left me with debts and three children. My baby was six months. The fast buck, your tips" (329). She worked as a waitress because she had to, not because she wanted to. But she did love the job, she did. She sure knew a lot about her job, but work is never easy. Work is work is work, and it gets stressful and tough at times, but they have to keep pushing because it's a living, and it's the only way to raise children properly and make money for the necessities of the family. These were tough times, that's for sure, and nothing could be taken for granted.