Living the Dream

I have two friends who are living the American Dream. You know, the one that encourages you to dress for the job you want, not the one you (might) have. The one that argues that there's work out there, you just have to find it. The one that would change the saying, "all the world's a stage," to 'all the world's a workplace.'

My one friend grew up in a group home for the mentally challenged. He's an outdoorsman who walks everywhere, looking and stopping to see what's going on. He was given an orange safety vest because he stands in the middle of the street watching local construction projects. Recently, he has been attracted to the government-subsidized road crews. He is harmless; but I've heard that he is in danger of being harmed, either by projectiles or workers who often find him disconcertingly "in the way." But, the work on infrastructure is out there and so is my friend.

My other friend is in a similar situation, but doesn't know when to come in from the rain. He's been given a yellow raincoat and matching hard hat because he's soft in the head. He rides the bus all day, stopping and getting off to survey any area that looks like it needs someone dressed for hard labor. He paces back and forth, leaving those passing by with nothing but rumors as to what will be done with this building or that one. For my friend, all the world's a workplace and we but anxious bystanders.

Ah, the American Dream - where anything is possible, but not so profitable. Where you don't have to wait to be a waiter or waitress serving up some interesting gossip. Nobody's stopping you going for it. Even if you're wearing cheap sneakers, just do it. This is America where a nobody can be somebody who could get hurt if he's not careful.

You'll have people talking, sometimes cursing, about your insane work ethic. You're a mover and doer, not always willingly, but hey - you gotta start somewhere. You're a self-made man who looks to his maker for the day's scheduled duties. You, my friend, are living the American Dream!