Diamonds in the Rough

When I first interviewed for my present position as a Production Coordinator within a steel mill consisting of at least ninety percent male employees, in what can only be described as one of the most consistently dirty, noisy, hot and stressful environments that one can imagine, I was thinking of only one thing, the money that came with the position. The money that came with the position made what I had worked for previously in my life look like peanuts in comparison; I thought to myself that I could withstand any treatment that might come my way for the paycheck that it would afford my family at the end of each week. I have to admit, the idea of being the only female in the area of the plant that I would be working in, immersed into a sea of about eighty five swaggering, swearing, rough neck steel mill workers was intimidating, but when they called and said I had the job, I was terrified and delighted all at the exact same time.

For the first few days that I was at work, when I walked into the break area, all conversation would completely stop. All the guys would look at me like I had suddenly sprouted another head, and me being the only woman, was not about to be the first to break this tradition. However, gradually they began to accept the fact that there was a woman in the midst of all of this manliness, and started to at least speak as I entered a room. Those initial attempts at being civil eventually grew into some of the best friendships that I have ever experienced in my life.

These guys that I found so intimidating on the outset, have been there to shore me up when my life crumbled. The first time that I realized just how much they had come to cherish and protect their "girl", was about two years ago. Our company was experiencing a significant financial impact from the rise in the price of the scrap metals that we utilized on a daily basis. It became evident that a lay off was imminent. When I got the call to come to the manager's office, it was all I could to contain the tears that threatened. But, being the only girl on that chopping block I was not about to let the guys see me cry. So, I went into the office, accepted my lay off slip, and went back to my office with the weight of the world on my shoulders so it seemed. About lunch that day, one of my guys came into the office and told me they needed me in the break area. I wondered exactly what kind of problem they were having now, and went in with my head held high.

When I walked into that room, all of my rough neck work companions were sitting at the table. One of the guys handed me an envelope. When I opened it, I saw what ended up being about two weeks salary. That was one of the few times that my guys got to see those tears, that I try so hard to hold back. The guys that I had once been so terrified of had just taken money from their budgets when none of us were getting a full week's work, to make sure my family and me would be okay.

Since that time, these guys have helped me deal with deaths in my family, prolonged illnesses in the ones I love, my son's failures and triumphs, and even a divorce. Through it all they have been there unflinching and unfailing. These guys are my diamonds in the rough, and looking back I would tell anyone that things are not always what they appear, and that sometimes even the toughest nut in the bunch really has a soft center.