Learning How to Work
Parking Lot Line Painting with Dad
My Dad had his own business for about 30 years, doing parking lot line painting; CThur Line Painting was the Go-To line guy in town, especially for small jobs that the full-service contractors didn't want.
That's where I first learned how to work. My dad took me out in the summer with him. I'll never forget his first major job, the University College of the Fraser Valley, now known as UFV. This was before he got a machine, so all the lines had to be painted using chalked lines, a roller and edge. Existing paint that had to be removed we scrubbed off by hand using wire bristle brushes, and when I say we, I mean, me. That was tedious work. But Dad would always buy me a Pepsi or a Mountain Dew and I'd be happy as a clam. I was maybe 11 or 12 at this time, so that was hard work and a kick-ass reward for a kid who never had pop at home!
A local developer and contractor who went to our church made him their primary painter for their developments around town. That gave him some capital to buy a machine, which started at 3K in 1995 dollars. After he bought the machine, things changed. The chalk lines didn't need an edge anymore, since the machine's wheels were trued. But Dad always needed an extra hand on the job, just to make things go easier. Whether it was setting up the Disability Man sign, arrows, or even just running along chalking lines on hot asphalt, there was always something to be done. And when it was break time, I was always happy to grab a pop, sit down on the edge of the truck, and shoot the shit with my old man. Mostly I was just glad I didn't have to use the wire brush any more...
This New York Times Interactive deals with the life of a road marker, which is a bit different than parking lots. The machines are bigger, and usually attached to vehicles, like you'll see in the NYT interactive. Just as with parking lots, though, it still relies on the luck of the weather to keep moving, a lot of skill to be able to keep the paint flowing through the machine at high speeds, and the ability to work under the pressure of the rising sun when vehicles will try their very best to ruin your best night time work... 🤣🤣🤣
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
All FREE subscribers have access to Dinner Table Digests, the Facebook Group, and to any past content that has been pulled from behind what I’m calling Peter’s Support Wall.
Content behind Peter’s Support Wall will include Special Edition Digests, my Peter, What Books Are You Reading series, original essays, and acerbic social commentary.
What I do know is that I am grateful for your support, and your eyeballs; I look forward to producing interesting and engaging content in the future. I would be especially honoured if you would consider donating $5 per month so that I can continue to create more excellent work in the future. If you would like to donate $3.50 or $8/mth, you can do so at my Patreon page. And, of course, if you have any ideas about what you would like to see among the special content, I am all ears!