Mainly for my kids and their kids I’ve completed digitizing all the families videos, tapes, films and pics, etc.. Now I am editing and enhancing them (inspired with software used for the “Get Back” documentary). Next job, categorize them and put comments in where memories might add context.

In the beginning my Dad is seen climbing a power pole. Yeah, maybe some background music would add to this, but it won’t be Wichita Lineman, that was a telephone lineman. Power-linemen have a much more dangerous job.

I say its 1964 (but could be wrong) because at end of this video, there I am, looking to be at least 5 at what I remember was the Barstow mobile park we often stayed.

I recognize some faces of the linemen as well, but can’t place their names but for one! Hey Danny Janelli and Debbie Janelli Dennis , at point 1:24, I bet you’ll recognize him too 😉 Joe Janelli, his wife and Paulene were my parents best friends during this era.

They worked hard and played hard. The play hard part especially when the wives and kids were not visiting while on the road. There’s just a few seconds of footage of the world famous El Rancho Motel (off of Route 66) after another long day enjoying a beer (or two).

Then the film cuts to my Dad water skiing. Then back to work. This time sky high on Power Transmission Towers.

Many don’t know this about me but out of high school my dad got me a union ticket in IBEW. I was a groundman (AKA “grunt”) for almost three years. Not a lineman, just looking at this film gives me scardy-heightess.

So what do grunts do? Using ropes and pulleys they pull stuff up to the linemen, pull stuff down, get cussed at, drive the trucks, have to laugh at the Linemen jokes, dig ditches… It was digging ditches in hot scenes like this that made me realize more than anything else, manual labor was not for me.