William Brent Batson
R. Kaiser
ENG-122-X2966 English Composition 1 14EW2
11-18-2014
Unaware A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” (Brinkley, n.d.). Most seven-year-old boys play with little yellow Tonka toys, at the same time; I romped in a four-block sand box with life-size dump trucks, cranes, and excavators. I am the youngest of four children, thirteen years younger than my next sibling. By the time I was seven my parent’s marriage had reached a point where they decided to get a divorce. I can remember it was winter, cold and gloomy, when my mother came into my room to tell me that I would have to go live with her parents, my grandfather and grandmother Kotara; consequently, I immediately felt warm, energetic and excited when she told me this. Most children I think would have been upset; however, I was being sent to stay with my grandfather, who was my idol and best friend. I was 7 years old when I arrived at my grandfathers, just as eager to see me as I was him, who was a Polish immigrant, which liked Coca Cola, Hersey chocolate bars, pink snowballs, and loved to fish. Pampa, Texas consisted of grasslands, canyons, wheat fields, and ranches, as well as, the constant smell of fresh grass and extreme heat and cold the ever-changing climate. I can close my eyes, and to this day and that smell allows me to envision the vast grassland and canyons that seemed to go on forever. By the time I was born, he had built a heavy equipment business and a small drilling company, this is the stage that was set, which changed and developed my future. Even though I initially do not realize that my best mentor was at home, my grandfather let me play with all the equipment in his yard from the age of seven to nineteen; consequently, training me how to use and repair the equipment, in turn, developing the skills in me, which allowed my advancement in the job market to be years ahead of most nineteen year olds. First, every day-after school and all summer long, from the age of seven to about ten, I was allowed to play with the equipment in the yard at my grandfather’s shop. He would teach me how to use the controls and turned me loose. If you have ever scored a touchdown or made a perfect grade, which causes a numbness or tingling sensation, that is how I felt every day while playing about the equipment yard. He showed me how to operate excavators, back hoes, bulldozers, and cranes. I was trained to check all the equipment and maintain it as well during those first years at my grandfathers, as well as, always given extra words of encouragement. I never felt that I would be in trouble or scared when I made mistakes; consequently, I felt safe and secure because he would always go over what happened and show me how to prevent it the next time. My grandfather never raised his voice or made me think that I could not come to him for anything. Those first few years went by quickly as I eagerly awaited each day to begin with the anticipation and impatience of a kid in a candy store. Next, it was hot and dry as the sun rose in the yard, it was summer and I was eleven, this was the summer my grandfather said I would finally get to use the grove 7500 hydraulic crane. The crane was monstrous, with a 700 ton capability and a 145 ft. extended boom, I was in heaven. I first learned everything about maintaining, repairing, and operating the crane. My grandfather was very meticulous when it came to knowing all of a piece of machineries specifications before ever operating it and showed me not just how but the importance of knowing them before it was an immediate need. About mid-summer I was allowed to operate the crane for the first time. As I started the crane, I could feel the entire cabs vibrations as the enormous engine chugged. After a few seconds, a large jolt shook the cab, it started with a huge billow of black smoke billowing from the exhaust stack. I tingled with excitement, much to my grandfather amazement, I immediately began to raise and extended the boom. All 145 ft. of the boom extended, I quickly lowered the blocks, and went to the tasks my grandfather put out in front of the crane. There were old barrels I would have to swing, extend, and retract the boom in order to weave the blocks through the maze without touching the barrels. There were many lifting games and various challenges set up for me over the next seven years; consequently, becoming second nature to me. The years flew by and I learned how to operate almost every type of crane and size that was available in the market place. Fun is what I perceived it as; however, it was much more than that. Finally, I was nineteen, during the last year my grandfather had passed away at the age of 98, the business was sold by my uncles and I thought I was left all alone. I was, after a few months, approached by one of my grandfather’s old employees who told me that my grandfather had set up an operators test for me in Houston in June. I arrived at the testing facility in June of 1988, after finally convincing the instructors that I was fully capable of operating any crane they could present I was allowed to take the test. I climbed in the cab and started laughing, I was in my grandfather’s yard and everything was identical to all the obstacles my grandfather made for me for the last eight years. I pas t in record time and with no mistakes. I took the written and passed with flying colors as well. The next day I went to get my license when they asked if I would take the operating test again, I noticed there were a few other people there, I told them I would. I ran through it with a better time than the day before; consequently, I was asked to do a few other lifts that I was not required to do. After completing all the extra tests, one of the bystanders approached, I was asked if I would like to go to work for Flour Daniels, a large construction company, I went over pay etc. and told him I would. I had begun my career. In conclusion, although some people think they never had anyone to show them how to do anything while growing up. I realized that day my grandfather had trained me and given me the skills necessary to not only get a job, but put me years ahead of anyone my age. I started as a class 3 operator that summer; however, within three months I was a class 1. I was paid as a senior operator by the end of that summer and went on to work for some of the largest companies in the world , as well as, obtaining some certifications that only a few in the world hold. When I was with my grandfather I really did not realize that he was preparing me the entire time for the day he would not be there to guide me. I miss him very much; however, every time I climb in the cab of a crane it is still as if I’m playing in the yard. At last, I realize he was and still is guiding me every day and was there the entire time.

Batson 5
Works Cited
David Brinkley. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved November 15, 2014, from BrainyQuote.com
Web site: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/davidbrink130590.html