Before the sunlight even hit the earths surface of North America. I was up and atom. Yes 2.30 am to have brekky and to pick up two VIP customers. They live out at Demming, 40 minutes away. Their flight from B’Ham airport was at 5 am. They wanted to be picked up at 3.30 am. Google maps said 39 minutes. OK I’m off, heading down the highway looking for roadworks damn. The exit I needed was closed because of roadworks. Need to to take the next one and come back on the other side of the freeway. To get the exit I needed. Just frustrating when I’m in a hurry. I take my exit and proceed to speed to make up for lost time. Then red and blue lights reflect in my review mirror. Pulling over the cop drove past me and pulled over the guy in front of me. Phew. As my heart is beating out of my chest I carried on down the road to their house. My VIPs were waiting. I was 4 minutes late. Sorry about that. Told them everything but they weren’t worried. As I dropped them off my VIP gave me a wad of cash. I didn’t see how much it was. Until I left. Oh my you over paid me! Apparently that was totally OK. Wow cheers mates!
It was 3.50 am and I had an archaeology job to go do at a secret location. Headed there and I noticed cars and trailers. Some looked derelict. I slept until the crew showed up. I dreamt about being in my car on a hill and losing control of my car. I woke up with a start. My vehicle is totally fine. Flat surface. No people. Just darkness. Went back to sleep and then woke again before my alarm.
The crew showed up with an excavator. I had to move my car to make room. Then I had to move my car again to make room for a dump truck delivering bark and fill. It was a demolition job, simple monitoring. Nothing too strenuous. Lots of photos and observations of the demo. The ground disturbance was minimal. The excavator had to break up the concrete of the foundation. He would lift it up with the bucket and drop it down on the other concrete laying on the ground. Some debris almost hit my car. OK I’ll move it again. I moved my car 3 times in less than an hour period. I returned and chatted to my new boss and the project works fellow from the county, whilst monitoring the demo. Eventually the boss left and a lady approached us and asked us what we were doing. The guy from the county told her. She walked barefoot back to the trailer.
As I went away and took my photos of the soil, the debris and the impact. The county man asked me what we identify ourselves in Australia? I said Australian. I mean I am Irish and British heritage as far as I know. Never done a DNA test or anything. Many Americans say they’re Irish or German or Dutch, instead of American. I think it’s odd. I mean if you’re born somewhere that’s where you’re from. It’s different to being native of course or the first people. Australia and America are not what natives call their home originally. It can be tribal or community based. For instance Kummeyay is a tribe in southern California. That’s their sovereign name. The Dharug in western Sydney is a language community in western Sydney. They wouldn’t associate themselves with a Quandamooka person in QLD, because that’s not where they were born. I said to the county man I wouldn’t mind doing a DNA test one day to see what genetic coding is in me. Maybe there’s aboriginal in me or Viking or something interesting. Then the lady returned and touched my hand and said you have it don’t ever lose it. Then came up to the county man and said you had it, but you can find it. Then she walked away. I thought about the seven Australian aboriginal people some years ago now asking me if I was Koori or had aboriginal in me. I said not that I know of at the time, but the more I do archaeology the more I think. I want to know more about me and my genealogy. My mum’s side is British as far as I know, but my dad’s side I tried to trace using my grandfather’s cousins information he sent to my pa a while ago. I started an ancestry.com account. But my grandfather’s grandfather turned out to be an assumption. My grandfather never knew his father’s father at all. Here I am trying to preserve, research and delve into other people’s culture and heritage, when I barely know own! If I found out my family had aboriginal in it I wouldn’t exploit it, because I was raised as a white fella. I’d just be proud to know one of the most ancient living cultures runs through my veins.
The monitoring ceased and I went to back to Bellingham to uber. I got ping for a retired government attorney from the airport. She loved that I was Australian.
Preet was a short trip by the airport. She wasn’t talkative at all. Only because she was on the phone.
It was raining that day. My wipers are very squeaky. Might need some new ones down the line. Especially because it’s getting close to autumn.
My final rider for the day was Mary. She was from Idaho. A bookkeeper who was in town to see her daughter and head down to the Elton John concert in Tacoma. It’s his last tour ever. He’s 72! Can you believe that? Hope I look that good when I’m that age. He’s in my opinion a legend and has accomplished a lot. I’d love to see him play, but I cannot justify spending that much money on a show when I can barely pay my bills lately.
Next is fruitful Fridays!
