Travel Life and Being Human.

A group of guys working in the Wind industry found themselves in unfamiliar territory. Arran from FL, Jordan from Iowa, Denis from MN and myself a tumble weed man originally from Ukraine now residing in... were in the small town of Calexico. We had been sent there to inspect turbine blades. There were a slew of other guys on the project making it about 30 in all. Back then, companies would shell out millions of dollars on giant crews of men to do a job that doesn't require much. However, with extra money in all of our pockets and freedom to spend it as quickly as we got it. It was easy for some of the guys to get completely reckless with it and they did. The job was so easy that we were able to do it in 3 hours but get paid for 10.

The job entailed shutting down the tower, going up 300 feet, using the turning gear to stop the hub from moving, locking out the 108 ft blades, then climbing inside of them and looking for possible cracks. The repair became necessary when a giant blade snapped off and hit the side of the tower; thereby making the whole damn thing collapse. The event made it into the news. What may not be generally known is that wind turbines is a multi billion dollar industry run by secret society deep in the underbelly of Europe. I can't tell you more than that, but they can track you down if you talk about them too much. I joke but Siemens has been around for a long time and has a crazy history, dark history. They were in charge of the train tracks and trains that brought Jews and others deemed undesirable by the Nazis in power to concentration camps. Siemens also ran the stoves that weren't used for making pizza. Dark I tell you, dark. I am Jewish so I have no problem talking about history and how my people were brutally dealt with. So come at me bro!

But this Siemens is different; they are still powerful but their dark days are hopefully behind them. The people that ran the company before are no longer around, and the new people running it are wiser, more humane. The new Simens are working to make our world a better place. This time around, they were paying multiple contracting companies And Wind Techs to inspect THE tower blades. Siemens towers are considered high class and are often called the Cadillac of the Wind World. In comparison, the towers are better than Suzlans, Vestes, and The morbidly scary Cell Towers with ancient wind Nacelles on them. To me, they are all just giant mental babies who constantly need to be maintained and serviced. You crawl all around on them, tightening things, replacing things, adding oil, replacing oil, getting covered in grease and trying not to get hurt or killed.

Safety is first in this industry it just is. You check your emotions at the door and go to work. You can't get complacent, you can't get caught up thinking about what your significant other told you or dream of the weekends on a Monday. You just have to be present or else you or your partner can get hurt. Most guys don't last long in the Wind Industry, 2 to 5 year max. If you are a Travel Tech like me it is even harder. It's harder to maintain relationships, start a family or settle down. But the money is great, especially that untaxed per-diem baby!

Don't get me wrong you get to see the country - sometimes the world. I have been to 20 states and HAVE met some of the most incredible people ever. I am currently hiding out in Maui, Hawaii and yes, the wind did blow me here. some places I love more than others and some I can't wait to leave. I have suffered through bone shattering cold weather ( Minnesota in the Winter) and been in blood boiling hot deserts.

The day I am writing about was a typical Friday for all the guys. Even though the job was easy it was still risky business, you can die. I repeat you can die easily doing this job. We worked semi hard and wanted to play semi harder you can say. All the crews finished inspecting their 2 tower 6 blades and headed back to the hotel. I wasn't in the meeting room for the big Friday plans, but I was always involved. Not being into false modesty, I know I am charismatic and have a wonderful sense of humor which helps me navigate life. I also stay humble. Believe it or not, I have no trouble making friends. I call those people suckers because once I am in your life I am always in your life.

The plan was to go to Mexicali, meet up, get food, explore and go to strip clubs/whore houses. Honestly, I do not like strip clubs, I despise ‘em. I respect the hard working women who have to do what they have to do. But you get me one on one with them and I turn Dr. Phill on their ass so fast it's amazing. "Listen Angel, you are smart, not just attractive. Have you thought of what you want to do next, cosmetic school is great and all but I think you would be wasting that intelligence." Yea I am that guy and I tip well. But again, I hate strip clubs, just not a fan. What I do love; however, is camaraderie. I love being in good company. You get me in a group setting and I flourish. I love people. Is it just in my Ukrainian/Jewish blood, maybe, but I love being able to talk to people, communication is key for me.

If I can't talk to someone or communicate, I get lost in translation. I am blessed because I am fluent in two languages: Russian and English. Languages are key and really are the ultimate bridge for connecting with other cultures, people and places. After the language connection, other things that bridge us in no particular order; food, art, music, sex, money, booze and drugs for some. We all look for enjoyment in some form or another. I know for me connection is above all things #1, everything else trickles in minus the drugs and the booze. I don't judge anyone for indulging in mind altering substances because who the fuck am I to judge. I just don't do drugs for various reasons; I look like I am high and drunk already, I am naturally high and drunk already, I enjoy being present and in the moment.

That being said, LSD and magic mushrooms when used properly and not abused have been proven to have healing properties. The compounds have healing properties that can help the depressed, victims of PTSD and Alcoholics. Pharmaceutical companies constantly fight to hide this info from the public. I simply don't judge people, because we all come from different walks of life. Some of us have rocks in our shoes, while others never even received shoes to walk in, because life is not always fair. Not judging others, while being WARY of those who want to take advantage of will keep me around longer. I plan to be around for a while. By the way if you have made it this far in reading my story, I just want to say thank you, you are a good person. If you are not a good person, then I still want to say thank you and please become a good person.

What does it take to be a good person? Such a silly question but it is a real one. Believe it or not it doesn't take much. It shouldn't even cost you a penny. You think a billionaire shelling out millions of tax write off dollars to break ground on a new elementary school bearing their name on it - makes them a better person than most? I am sorry but Kylie Jenner Elementary doesn't exactly sound all that special nor should it. Because being a good person isn't even about doing physical work, feeding the poor nor washing them. All those things qualify, especially cooking a meal for someone and washing them. However being a good person is simple. It's simply looking at another human being and letting them know that, "Hey I got you, let's just talk about life, love, pain, happy times, bad times and where we are today. I am here to listen".

Everybody just wants to be heard and feel like they are a human that belongs in this world. Being a good person is about recognizing that we are all in this together and it doesn't matter what walk IN life we took. We are all; walking, crawling, biking, running or being driven in a self driving car, towards a common goal: Trying to be happy in this ever changing world we live in.

Enough already, this guy is all over the place! Ok I am sorry my reader friend, I am getting there. I promise you. Where was I? Oh yes. Let's get back to the story shall we. Just to bring you up to speed, my job entails lots and lots of traveling. This guy has been all over the place aka me. Most of it has been through my work path in the Wind Industry. Wherever I landed, the goal was simple. I wanted to explore, experience adventure and stay out of trouble. When a chance to do all these things came knocking on that Friday afternoon I could not resist.

Jordan is a giant stout, beast of a man, a true corn fed Iowa boy. He looks ready to put on a football uniform and walk on as a tight end for the National Football League. He grew up on a farm. After purchasing back his grandpa's house in an auction from his own family members, Jordan will probably die on the same farm he was raised on. He is a burly 6'6" force of nature, but is really just a giant happy go lucky puppy. From time to time he can go blackout angry if he gets triggered enough. But when he doesn't turn into an Iowa crazed winter soldier, he is a sweetheart that women can't resist. No seriously, hide your daughters when this guy is in town.

Aaron is a cool ass guy and don't you dare call him a wook, dirty hippy or wigger. He is none of those things. He has worked hard to amass his own wealth. That being said, he enjoys all those nice things those stereotypes bring. But the man is in his own category, and so are his cool ass dreadlocks. Oh there aren't many guys with dreads in the wind industry so more than likely if you get into this industry someone somewhere will say, "oh yea the cool dreadlocks guy!"

Believe it or not, wind turbine technology is a small industry and everyone knows each other. It's a good thing and a bad thing but it's how it goes. If you really want to join the community go on FB and type in Tower Climbing Grease Monkeys. You might get lucky and get in because the admin is a former wind tech and is an awesome guy too. Yea most of us are there sometimes years after we get out of the industry. I mean you really meet some awesome interesting guys, assholes too, and dudes that seem out of place (that would be me). What do you expect, we all come from different walks of life but with a common goal, to survive financially. We all have bills to pay and if we don't have bills, we have mouths to feed, if not our own than someone else's. It's a massive responsibility and it comes with a heavy price. Some guys really struggle with certain things in this industry, and it's nothing against the turbines or the work we do because it is honorable. It's just not easy to be away from people you love. It is not easy being alone with your thoughts.

It's important to create a bond, it is important to create a camaraderie. Yea sure you can hide away in your per-diem or company provided hotel room. You can spend hours playing Xbox or Playstation live. You may have a romantic one night stand date with someone you met on Bumble, Tinder, Craigslist, Grinder, Christians Mingle, Farmers Only, Facebook Dating, Sex Addicts Anonymous or Single Mothers Looking to get Pounded. But hey, none of those things will create memories, none of those things will be something we truly wish to remember. Unless, the last activity mentioned brings us to a clinic because something is itchy.

The things we remember the most is how we felt in the moment and how we made someone feel. We remember tragedy because we felt earth shattering pain. We remember triumph because winning doesn't come as easy as losing. Being on top of the world, one wants to savor the feeling. Of course we feel love when it's real and genuine. We also feel heart break because the dagger digs deep. When we find ourselves in the moment, the present and grounded in time we tend to remember certain things like they just happened.

I recently asked one of my mentors David, who has been with his wife for 40 years about when and how he felt when he knew his lady was the one and this is what he told me. "I fell in love with Sandra when we were 17 years old-- we were seniors in High School. We were both in the school choir- she was the pianist and absolutely beautiful. We both went to a choir car wash fundraiser and worked closely together at the car wash. That led to our first date that night. We went to see a movie called The Dove (we now realize it was a boring movie but at that time we were both too nervous to notice). I fell in love with her that night. That was October 2, 1976. We dated 4 years and got married on August 16, 1980. We celebrate our first anniversary every year. We always go to McDonald's for lunch because that was where we ate together for the first time." The Notebook HAS nothing on my friend Dave's love story.

It doesn't matter if it is something that started 40 years ago or a minute ago, we always remember people and moments that made us feel something deep. We remember certain things so well that we can't help but always come back to those memories, for good or bad we come back to our memories. Have you ever found 20 dollars on the ground and felt instant satisfaction? Maybe it's just me but I keep going back to the same spot waiting for the new Andrew Jackson bill to reappear. Our thoughts are quite similar but luckily for us memories do reemerge. I sure could use a 20 though.

Being that I am always down for creating memories, it wasn't hard to convince me to go to a border town of Mexicali, Mexico. Getting across was incredibly easy. When Jordan, Arren, Denis and I safely crossed to the other side after showing our passports, we quickly realized a little problem. The problem was that none of us spoke much useful Spanish. We also all stood out like a black twig in a pile of hay, especially Denis, our elder statesman. He is more of a walking human monster energy drink, and I am okay with that. Denis is a cool cat, but he looked like Hell’s Angels whose motorcycle was stolen by a rival Mongol gang. The only solution was Tequila.

Now maybe getting a buzz on in uncharted territory, when you don't speak a word of Spanish wasn't the best idea for these sons of anarchy. I am not a big drinker, so I don't recall getting drunk and truth be told none of us were at least during the day time. What we were; however, was a little confused and somewhat collectively excited and nervous. What are we doing here and is this even life right now?

As we walked deeper down the streets of Mexicali Mexico, things didn't get less confusing for the boys in the hood. We were getting looked at and approached by a different breed of poverty stricken humans. At one point, poor Aaron was even spooked by a man covered in blood gashes and scabs all while doing an incredible impression of a zombie. Poor Aaron's dreads stood up like one of those cool African crested porcupines. Not passing judgments here, none of us were. We just didn't know how to communicate and our experience at the moment was that of confused and scared individuals.

The thing was we got out really early that day from work. The plan had been that a massive group of us were going to head down to Mexicali. It wasn't supposed to be just us four. At least nine other guys, with several that spoke Spanish were going to join us. But there was missed communication, the guys we needed were not going to head down during the high heat time. They were going to relax at least until 7 before crossing the border town. I am sure we talked about all of this, but this information went over our heads.

It all felt like a terrible unplanned idea. Especially after the only good idea we had was to take tequila shots, using Mexican currency aka pesos. Whose value, we didn't 100% understand. Typical Americans, only really recognizing their own dead presidents on their country's paper bills. Now this is the sort of foolery that gets you tricked quite easily. I think we grossly overpaid for those shots.

There we were, semi buzzed, staggering down unfamiliar streets. I now had a bucket in my hand, and I really don't know how or why. All I knew was that I now had a random stupid bucket in my hand. The guys were too buzzed or found it entertaining but it wasn't helping us figure out what the fuck our actual plan was. For now, the bucket was all we knew and even that didn't last long when I realized that I must have stolen a random bucket. You just don't steal in a foreign land or anywhere else for that matter. The bucket was returned before anyone noticed and any hands were chopped off.

Walking deeper into unfamiliar territory truly was causing some anxiety in all of us. Until a Mexican man in his mid 30s approached us. His clothes were clean and well kept, he was well put together. He was calm and polite. There wasn't anything about this stranger that made us WARY. When he opened his mouth to speak to us, it was in a language we could understand. He said, "Hello, my name is Efrain could you spare some change.” Before we knew it, we were having a full on conversation with him. He was deported for a DUI violation, he has a daughter in San Jose CA, he was stuck in Mexico and can't go back to see family in CA. It was sad but he admitted that he had no one to blame for his mistakes but himself and he was right.

We all make bundles of mistakes, most of them are not intentional none of them really are. We commit foolish acts when we are not in the right state of mind or not thinking with our heads because we want to break the norms. In Efrain's case, it was a mix of many things and getting intoxicated while operating a vehicle in a country not native to you, was indeed a foolish act. The mistake will haunt him but it shouldn't stop him from trying to have a life worth living.

Society might have tossed this poor broken man to the streets because they didn't see value in a mistake prone man. However the guys and I quickly realized that this man, this raggedy clothed, perfect English speaking man, is going to be of great help to us. So we did the best thing we could, we hired him to be our tour guide. And, we gave him 40 dollars upfront so that he would know that we needed him more than he needed us.

And away we went, we caught a shockingly nice bus to a big mall like plaza, and walked around listening to Efran tell us of the history of this place. Then, we went to an ancient cemetery that Afran said was haunted. I think it was because I felt something there. We explored, we laughed, we felt safe and we felt grateful for Efrain and his presence.

We eventually got hungry and found a nice place to eat. Naturally, we ordered a feast and told our tour guide Efrain to please get anything from the menu. We all feasted on some great traditional Mexican food, while Efrain enjoyed himself a big ol juicy burger. He was one happy man.

He later on revealed that this day made him almost as happy as the day his daughter was born. It made him feel alive. It made him feel like his life was worth living, and that he was more than just a beggar down on his luck. He also revealed that it was just his birthday two weeks ago and this felt like a gift sent from God. He was happy and cried a little right after we took a group photo.

In life, it is easy to forget that the shoes we wear are much better than the shoes of many others. Sometimes it feels good to brush our differences aside and see each other as brothers and sisters all under one sun, all in pursuit of a life worth living. I do hope Efrain is out there and luck has changed for him. I do believe it is possible to turn things around as long as we know we are worth it. And, we love, develop inner strength and persevere until providence shines upon us.