I know this is a bit cheesy, but today I’m not taking my job for granted. Here’s why I’m writing about this today:

My credit union is on the grounds of Moffett field in Mountain View and intermingled with the military base are a bunch of other buildings. Maybe NASA or Lockheed, I’m not exactly sure. The point is the credit union is swarming with folks from these companies. I was sitting and waiting my turn to talk to a credit union representative when I overheard a snippet of conversation. A man an a woman, both wearing security clearance type tags around their neck and a lot of flannel. Both obviously from NASA or Lockheed. Both looks beaten and weary and didn’t even really make eye contact with each other while they talked.

“Hey Bob haven’t seen you in a while”.

“Yeah, I’m in building 142 now.” Bob looked embarrassed.

“Really. How is building 142? Do you like it?”

“Eh. No, not really. Um, it’s okay.” Bob looked pained.

“Yeah, that’s what everyone says. Same ol’, same ol’. It’s a paycheck.” The woman was clearly reciting her usual script on this matter.

“Yeah, I guess.” Bob looked even more pained.

“I’m in building 137. I don’t know how long I’ll be there. I don’t know what’s going on.” The woman is talking. Following her script. “I’ve been at the company twenty two years now and its always the same. I might be moving to building…”

“Yeah. I better go get in the teller line. It’s out the door right now.” Bob interrupts and scurries away. The woman shrugs.

This literally sent a chill down my spine. That could have been me in building 142 had I made different choices along the way. Working with the drones from building 137. May god have mercy on my soul.