The Spring of 83

I had been working
In the mining industry
For about three years,
Designing and evaluating
Earth dams around the world.

I was proud of the work I did
And particularly the field people
I had the opportunity to work with.
Most of them were seasoned veterans
With as much as 35 years experience each.

They were people who had worked
In almost every corner of the globe,
A fascinating bunch of characters
Who knew how to get things done
Under extremely adverse conditions.

They knew construction inside out.
They were some of the most
Experienced field engineers I ever encountered.
They each had a keen sense of the practical
And could overcome any challenge but one.

In the Spring of 1983
The mining industry
Came to a screeching halt
And the veterans and I
Were let go.

I was young and could
Quickly make a transition
But nobody seemed to want these men
Who had served so long
And knew so much.

As far as I was concerned
They were a national treasure,
Yet tragic as it may seem,
Half of them died from heart attacks
Within the next six months.

That experience left me
With a bitter aftertaste
For they were my heroes
And I saw how easily they were discarded
Once they were no longer needed.