First Impressions

I discovered One Minute Writer today, click on my First Impressions Title and it will take you there too (but 1st, don't you want to read my blog story?). I was caught by one of the daily writing prompts; to write about a first impression. Check out the link for yourself, I liked it.

I was in the Navy and had just transferred to the Pearl Harbor repair facility. I had been stationed in Great Lakes for 5 years, where only 10% of the personnel were women. Odd experience. Anyway, I needed to pick up an amplifier from a ship in drydock so I grabbed my toolbag and caught a ride over. This was the 1st time I had seen a ship in drydock, very impressive; large sections of the walls were cut out to bring in new equipment, the deafening welding, sanding, drilling, loud clanging and men crawling all over the ship. I put in my earplugs & picked my way through the controlled madness to the deck two floors below. The ship's electrical was disconnected so cords were strung everywhere to bring lighting in to the work areas, but it was still dim. I was starting to be a little intimidated and overwhlemed. When I walked into the room, welders were working with the arc lights blazing and acrid smell of the metal hanging in the room. I had a quick flash of wierdness from being the only woman in the room, an odd 'out of place' feeling like I didn't belong there. Then the welding stopped, three of the welders took off their faceshields and turned around to say hi. They were all women.

I still laugh about that and it was 20 years ago.