Well, I got the job at Union Pacific.

UPRR was having the hiring session at the Rocklin Park Hotel, so last night I drove down and got a room upstairs. This way I could sleep as late as possible. I could get dressed and walk downstairs, and not get stuck in traffic or anything lame like that.

While ironing my clothes I watched Cartoon Network! We don’t get that channel (my all time favorite) in Chico so I was VERY happy. I took care of all my stuff, laid out all my clothes, organized all my gear, and got in bed. I watched cartoons until 12:30am and finally felt sleepy enough to turn out the lights.

I slept great! The alarm went off at 6:30am. The radio was playing Return of the Mack. “This is a sign!” I thought. I sang in the shower and whistled a little tune as I put on my suit. I felt rested. I felt sharp. I looked great.

Time to kill.

So I walked downstairs and checked out. The girl working at the desk was the same one who checked me in the night before. She did a double take when she saw me in my fresh, clean suit. (The night before I checked in wearing shorts, tshirt, and sandals). I smiled and flirted with her as she finished up my paperwork. I felt like the King of Town.

I walked outside and it was a beautiful day. Sun shining, about 65 degrees, no wind, just perfect. I was very comfortable in my monkey suit and not too hot at all. After dropping off my bag in my truck, I made for the banquet hall where the hiring session was to be held.

OK, I’m starting to feel a little nervous. Cell phone rings, it’s Scott.

“Hey Tom, I thought you might want to know… The manager doing the hiring is a friend of mine, and I talked to him yesterday. He knows you’re going to be there, he knows who you are. You’re in dude, don’t worry.”

Deep breathe and a sigh of relief. Think happy thoughts. I walked in the room and…

I’m the only guy wearing a suit. There are about 80 people in the room. One guy is wearing black jeans, scuffed up cowboy boots, and a Harley Davidson tshirt. One guy is wearing shorts and sandals. This is what they wore to an interview? ONE guy is wearing a tie. I feel like the black sheep that I am.

Blah blah blah, paperwork and presentations.

Then it happens.

“Tom, we want you to start on Monday.”

Monday? I can’t start on Monday. I’ve only got five weeks of school left. I’m graduating.

“I don’t understand sir. I put on my application that I won’t be available to work until after I graduate from Chico State, which is May 23rd.” Oh shit.

“Well, we have trains sitting in the yard because we don’t have the crews to work them. We’re in an emergency situation here. We absolutely need you to start on Monday.”

Fuck.

Time slows and my heartbeat quickens. The blood is rushing to my face. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears. My stomach churns. What do I do?

I hold my future in my two hands. In one hand I have something I’ve worked at for ten years now, my education. I’ve had my ups and downs since 1994 and now, finally, I’m graduating. In the other hand I have a career that I REALLY want. I can’t say that about too many jobs I’ve worked, and there have been a lot of them. What do I do?

I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I’m starting to sweat. I reach back with my right hand and feel the back of my head, and massage my skull.

“I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“Excuse me? Mr. Bissell, we really want you for this job. We need you.”

I’m agonizing over this decision. This is a high paying job (some engineers made $100,000 last year on the railroad) and a great lifestyle for the adventurous Tom Bissell. I’m wringing my hands. My palms are soaking wet. This moment feels like a lifetime. Ah hell, I can always go back to college can’t I? Wait, what am I thinking, NO!

“I’m sorry sir, I truly am, but I just can’t do it right now. I’ve worked very hard for a very long time, and now I’m finally graduating. I’m only five weeks away. I have to stick with it. I’m sorry.”

Stand up, shake hands, feel free to reapply after graduating, thank you.

I’m shaking as I walk out of the room. I had the job. I had it. It was mine.

But the price to pay was too great. I’m just too close to graduating. I couldn’t take it.

I drove home in silence that morning. Window down, radio off, stuck behind a semi going 50 miles an hour. Brain going 600 miles an hour.

I did the right thing, didn’t I?

Time for plan B.

I bought my first suit today.

Man, I’ve never worn a suit in my life. I’m a total t-shirt, surfer shorts, and sandals kind of guy. I don’t like to play dress up. In my closet one might find a single pair of jeans and a single pair of khakis. I don’t even like to wear pants. So wearing a suit feels very odd.

I must say though, god DAMN I look good in this thing. I bought some Kenneth Cole shoes and a Claiborne jacket, among other things. I even bought a leather portfolio to complete the look. I look and feel like a million bucks in this get-up. If you didn’t know already, a million bucks feels fucking great.

Check out this ensemble:
White dress shirt
Snazzy blue silk tie
Navy blue coat
Khaki slacks
Black socks (from Target!!!)
Black leather shoes

Sure it’s hot and uncomfortable, but I don’t hate wearing it. I’m looking forward to showing up for my interview on Thursday wearing the thing.

I have my first official face-to-face interview with Union Pacific Railroad on Thursday. I must say, that I’m not nervous at all. I feel a little excited but that’s it. I know I’m going to be hired. I was born to be a railroader.

The hours and the lifestyle suit me perfectly. As a railroader, you are on call 24/7. You never have a set schedule. You might go to work at 7am, you might go to work at 3pm–you just never know when you’re going to get that call. Since I’m such an insomniac and can’t sleep anyway, this won’t bother me. I hate a set schedule anyway. The 9 to 5 day in, day out grind is definitely not for me. I’ve lived that life before and hated it.

I’ll most likely be working out of Roseville, CA. Which brings us to the best part about the RR–I don’t stay in one place. The train’s gotta keep-on movin’, and so will I. From my home base in Roseville, I’ll go to places like Dunsmuir, Portola, Sparks, Oakland, and Fresno regularly. During the slow season I’ll be asked to work out of places like San Luis Obispo, Long Beach, and San Diego. If I’m feeling REALLY adventurous I can ask to work in places like Salt Lake City or Denver. I love that I won’t be going to the same building and sitting at the same desk for the rest of my life. I’ve worked that corporate humdrum life before, and it’s definitely not for me.

I’ll work close to a 12 hour shift each time I go to work. If I’m away from home I’ll get at the least 8 hours of rest before they can call me back. If I’m home it will be more like 12 hours off. Once I learn the system and pass my probationary period of 3 months, I can start to finagle time off. My buddy Scott estimates that he got at least 16 weeks off last year. Doesn’t sound so bad to me…

The money will be great too. As a newbie trainman I’ll probably work a lot in the beginning. My first year I’ll make around $50,000. Last year Scott made between $65-70,000. Some guys who stay marked up to work all the time made close to $100,000. It all depends on how much you want to work.

So why don’t more people work for the railroad if it’s so great? Well, lots of reasons. Most people can’t hack the screwy hours. It won’t be uncommon for me to be up for 24 hours straight, just because of the wacky hours. Also, when I go to work I won’t be coming home–I’ll be spending the night in a hotel room. Also, when I go to work, I can expect to be gone for about 36 hours. Since I’m a single guy that’s never been married and doesn’t have any kids this lifestyle isn’t a problem. And, the job is very dangerous. Trains are huge, heavy slabs of steel. Shit happens.

So cross your fingers and wish me luck. I can’t remember ever wanting a job this badly. In the immortal words of Josephus (Gregory Hines) in History of the World part I, “[I was] Born to do it!”