Terrific Tim

As most of you know, I work two jobs.

My second job consists of arriving early into schools, speaking with the custodians to assist me with access to gyms to set up sports - volleyball nets, sticks, balls, etc.

This past season I have been coordinating women's volleyball near Dufferin and St.Clair. I have always enjoyed going to this school because the custodian is so lovely. I asked him what his name was the first day I met him two years ago, and I have always remembered it. His face lights up when I use his name every week.

This man's name is Tim. He has worked in that elementary school for 18 years. He's 65, and won't retire for a while. I have always enjoyed talking with him because he's fun to listen to. He's a tall, black man and has grown up in a primarily Italian neighbourhood. He speaks with an Italian accent and has all of the Italian mannerisms, including biting his hand when he's angry and flicking the bottom of his chin when he says "va fungool!"

We got to talking this week about a few things - work ethic, pride and being happy in life.

He was so inspirational to listen to. This man has been working his butt off for almost 20 years and says that it took him a while to wrap his head around his job. In the beginning he couldn't deal with how disgusting some of the kids were - never wrapping up their personal hygiene items properly, sticking them on the walls instead of the garbage, etc. He went home that night and complained to his wife that his job sucked, and he wasn't going to stay. She convinced him to stick with it for a while.

Now he says he is glad that he listened to her. He's happy to be inside during the heat of the summer. He's happy to be inside during the cold of the winter. He has food and wine on his table. He has friends to play pinochle with. His daughter has been able to go to university. Last but not least, he paid off his mortgage last month. Life is good. He even went as far to say the scent of the hygiene items is now like "perfume" to him.

Sometimes when things start to get a little crazy in your life and you live in your own head for a while, you need the perspective of people like Tim.

Tim is the shit.

It couldn't have come at a better time.