Wednesday, May 26, 2010

My Best Friend Ted

Ted and I started the new year with a new mission. The economy has changed and that has put us both out of work. Ted will probably return to work before I will, because he has been in the construction field a lot longer, and the companies in play know his name and reputation. Ted gets jobs done. 


The workers he manages may not like the way he talks to them and may say this is a cause for concern. Some have tried to bring him up on charges with the union or report him to the Supervisor as verbally abusive. They just don't know Ted. The difference is Ted is being sharp or blunt, Ted always tells it like it is. Sometimes it takes a sharp command to get a message across or a job done, or to keep you safe.


If you want to get something done right the first time, you will want to talk to Ted. He is a very smart man. Do not let him fool you with his good ole boy southern drawl. Yes he is good, that's why he has lasted so long. People know to call Ted.


That's why it may come as little surprise that Ted called me when I got laid off, he wanted to make sure I knew what to do with my time. He wanted to make sure I would use my time wisely. As he had helped me get all I have now with his solid advice, he wanted to make sure I wasn't going to lose everything I had worked 5 years for.


Yes, I know it doesn't sound like Ted, but all of us have more than just one side, including Ted.


I think my favorite image of Ted will always be his smile. When we were on the road crew and our lives were in danger at every moment, those smiles were rare. At the end of the day, he was just happy we were done and safe. On those days when he screamed at us and called us names to keep us moving forward, the end of the day was welcome and we couldn't wait to be free of him... and then he would smile and say "Thank you, you did a great job out there today! I am really proud of you. Get some rest, we gotta do this again tomorrow." It was the sweetest feeling... Seeing his smile at the end of the day. If you didn't see that, then you don't know Ted.


May 27th is Ted's birthday. I wanted to get this blog started sooner but time constraints and just where to start and how... Well lets just close this with a big Happy Birthday shout out to My Best Friend Ted! I can't wait for all of you to get to know both sides of Ted. He will change your life for the better, and maybe between his calls to me, my writing, and your reading, we can change the world. 

6 comments:

  1. How creative and captivating

    But I must tell you what brings happy tears to my eyes is the fact you clearly have found you writing voice again
    I am so very proud of you and inspired

    I thank you

    Love


    Kim

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  2. www.friendsworld.org

    a real place with real friends

    and you are a big part in creating that

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  3. Thank you for stopping by to read this Lyricsingray, btw, Ted is a Christian man, so do keep the clothes on. :D

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  4. Congratulations on getting this going Faybe Bay, and Happy Birthday to Tom!

    There is a business man in my town who has taken many a young couple under his wing, and helped to set them on their feet. He is not afraid to stick his nose in other's business, and tell them how to get ahead.

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  5. I'll be sure to come back and read more about Ted. It sounds as though he probably has something to teach me.

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  6. Ivy and Blue Street, I want to thank you for stopping by to read and comment. I am looking forward to getting to know my way around here.

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