🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <IfLiGe600WB98iAXsl@andrew.cmu.edu> lv08+@andrew.cmu.edu (Lili Velez) writes:
>Is there something inherently _wrong_ about being a truck driver?  Must we
>be disappointed in someone who _wants_ to be a beautician, a cook, a
>mechanic?
>
>Yes, I completely understand being distressed when someone believes that one
>career or another is the "only job they could ever be suited for, so
>why try...?".  Abandoned or misguided potential is a tremendous loss, to
>both the person and the society which has to trundle on without their
>contributions -- but it seems to me that we can brand careers ('vocations'?)
>as unworthy or `below us' just as easily as we can brand children.

What an interesting set of examples.  I don't know about truck driver,
but I've know beauticians, cooks, and mechanics who are interesting,
creative people, not to mention carpenters, tool & die makers, autobody
repairers, farmers and electricians.  It never occured to me to aspire
to any of these careers, partly because I was a girl and partly because
I was going to college...I might well be happier as a mechanic.  My
partner certainly loves being one.

I try to let my kids know that honest work is fine.  Honest work that
one loves is best.  It's also important to be able to make enough money
to cover one's needs.  

(oh, yeah, I've also taken my share of flack for choosing a "blue collar
type" as a partner, just to show how pervasive this bias it, but we get on ok.)
Susan
susan@varian.com