Journal Four Maci

Barbara in her Tenderhouse

           Within the book Callings, the story that stood out to me most was “A Bridgetender”. This profile stood out to me most because Barbara Abelhauser did a task that I’m not sure I would be able to do myself. She use to work as a state employee for 14 years, and then one day realized that she was not satisfied with her job so she left. She reasoned her quitting with explaining “I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, and if that happens I want to have woken up that day and not thought, Ugh, I dont want to go to work” (Isay 21). Being such an intricate task to start over after 14 years, Barbara found a whole new field of work. This new job didn’t require her to put on pantyhose or put up with office politics, she became a bridgetender. She admired the thought of a Zen, emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition, job and she went out and found it. She would sit in a booth over the Ortega River in Jacksonville, Florida, and she would open and close the bridge to allow boats to pass from one side to the other. The bridge over the Ortega River requires that a bridgetender to always be on duty, and this allowed Barbara to become familiar with the people (joggers, people walking dogs and couples out on strolls), and the animals (alligators, manatees and dolphins), that spend their days on and around the bridge. Barbara was “getting paid to stop and look” (Isay 20). She didn’t expect to be there long but she fell in love with her job. She didn’t work their for the pay or for promotions, but because this job made her happy. I admire this about Barbara and she inspired me to find a job that makes me want to wake up in the morning. 
          After reading the couple short profiles about people finding their passion in their work, I know that I want a job that lights a fire inside me. A job that I look forward to waking up to go to every day. This in hand goes with my desire to help people, and why I chose to be a nurse. I am passionate about having a direct job that influences the world and other people. Not only do I want a job that I am truly passionate about, but I want a job that supports me and my family as well. From an outside point of view, that’s what everyone wants. A financially stable career because some people believe that money can make them happy. The reason why I want a job that pays well is not to benefit me, but my family. Not having many things growing up, I want to be able to support my children one day and give them a life that I never had. They will in time learn to work for things in life, but I want them to experience a childhood that I always wished for.