Writer’s Note: Okay, now the muse is resurrected, it's time to delve into what it's like to be me: Full Time Night Bus Operator. A heavy gig on a heavier rig. I've missed writing. Thought a "break" would do me good. Nah, man. Instead of allowing my muse to cruise, I lost it. Both figuratively and literally. Instead of documenting a seriously-historical time, I simply lived it instead of writing it. Life piled up without a place to express. Deke died, but I didn't. Those of you who read this, you're stuck with me now. I couldn't shut up if I tried. Unless too many of you lose interest. Then, necessity would take precedence and I would HAVE to stop. Until then, here goes.
The "new" uniform and I don't get along. We were surveyed a while back regarding the threads we work in. I was vocal. NO polyester, please. My mostly-cotton coverings were quite adequate. A bit outdated? Maybe so. However, they are relatively comfortable. If I sweat in them, they absorb it. Somewhat fragrant going into the laundry basket, but they serve their purpose quite well. Stain resistant, too. Considering my penchant for missing this mouth at meals, this is a definite plus.
Polyester has always been extremely uncomfortable to me. Itchy, non-durable and flimsy in my experience. My off-duty garments are almost entirely cotton, of the Earth, spun in the good ol' USofA from fibers farmed by the hardy, hearty and tough farmers of this great nation.
Of the clothes I've had the longest, some of them 20-30 years I must admit, the most durable are made of United States Cotton. They're soft and comfy. They breathe with me. Nothing I have purchased made outside this country (except those made in the U.K./Ireland) have half the longevity or attractiveness of my beloved "Made in the USA" clothing.
The new uniforms don't even sport a buttoning collar, negating the possibility of my sporting festive ties during the holiday season, or my perennial favorite color on March 17.
COVID has affected supply lines and shipping. Understandable. Yet, if our uniforms were still produced in our own country, we would have had them last summer. Instead, I've been waiting on my new trousers an entire year now. When asked why I don't sport the new company line, I simply replied nobody would appreciate me showing up to work in shirt, jacket, undies, socks and shoes.
What I really want to know is why our uniforms are made in foreign countries. It's incredibly insulting to a union shop to be forced to wear a cheap facsimile of a professional uniform, made by non-union overseas sweatshops. I'm in no hurry to disrespect our own country's textile mills by wearing cheap foreign crap that reportedly breaks down, pills and looks ratty after a few months of laundering. Therefore, I'll wear the old until I'm ordered to wear the new. Out of respect for the thousands of union-backed textile workers in OUR country. At least my trousers that are 6-7 years old are still respectable. Now, our uniform allowance will likely be diminished each April when the funds are released, just to replace the shoddy workmanship we're now forced to wear.
Bad move, guys. You could have improved the design without resorting to cheap crap. Now we all look like scrubs instead of professional transit workers.
Polyester. Ugh.
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