Sometimes you can learn valuable life lesson when not expected. Some come out of joy and many come out of hardship and sorrow. One such "lesson" came at one of those hard times. I call it "Round and Round". Everyday, I leave for the Tire Plant, say good bye to my wife and son, and head out the door. I guess that is the usual way most do. That day began just like that but ended much different. Making tires can be a dangerous job and if you don't pay attention, it can be deadly. Such was the case when I lost my best friend. The process in making tires requires heat and pressure. If you use to much of either at the wrong time it becomes a bomb. On that day I will working on number nine machine which had been working fine and my friend Herald, came to take over so I could take my break. It seemed like a dream to me but the events of the day will stay with me forever. They never did find out what happened but it seemed to be a faulty switch on the machine. The pressure built up and with the extreme heat, the tire exploded sending my friend Herald flying against the back wall. When I heard the noise, I ran towards the machine room but was stopped before I got into the room. They said that if Herald had been able to turn off number 9 in time, it would not have happened. A tragic accident which took a life, brought about changes in Industry that has saved many lives. Due to the generosity of the Company, fellow workers, and what little I could give, we were able to help the Family. Watching the wheels go round and round showed me that if we all stick together and help each other, our lives will continue to go ‘round and round’. So much has changed over the last 5 years for the good.
