Finding my way

It was only a couple weeks with my cousin before I picked up the billboard gig. That family was such a blessing for me at that time in my life. Between college living and buying a place of my own would be a time to save some money but I didn't want to do it entirely on the charity of others. I didn't overstay my visit so the two weeks could be good for everyone. Once I had a job though I was ready to pay rent. It took some convincing to get an apartment to rent to me and I'm sure that's only more difficult with the current economy now, but with enough money down (3 of the 6 months I would be there), which I borrowed, I was able to get in to a modest one bedroom apartment. I just hadn't had enough rental history for them.

I felt like I was in over my head a little but with a lot of hard work would come out okay. I tried to remind myself of this as I stood on in between the billboards with the most bird poop all over them. I was covered in it too until I gained enough experience to put the canvas up without getting myself all over the inside of the boards. I learned that there were more than four seasons with billboards. Bird season: beyond the mess the mother birds dive bomb you if you disturb eggs in nests accidentally. Wasp season: I'd only been stung one other time in my life. I quit counting when I was averaging 2-4 bites a day. I wasn't going anywhere after a couple weeks, or a couple of months, because I needed the money and I was going to toughen up and stick in there, but I also didn't avoid the topic of wanting to apply to a different position. The whole crew was keeping their eye's open for new job positions out there. In fact, one kid left after the first month I was there with the parting words of, "see you suckers!"