Hit 20 years in the trade last week, still feels like yesterday I was a helper

I was on a job up in Gary Indiana last Thursday, swapping out an old firetube boiler that had to be from the 70s, and it hit me that I've been doing this for two decades now. The old unit had these massive handhole plates I had to wrestle off, and I remembered doing that as a green apprentice for the first time back in 2004. It's weird how a number like 20 years can sneak up on you when you're just focused on the next job. Has anyone else had a milestone like that catch them off guard?

2 comments

2 Comments

jessica_miller1mo ago

My neighbor's been a welder 30 years and I always thought he was exaggerating till I hit my own 15 year mark last month.

morgan_butler1mo agoTop Commenter

Them old firetubes never give up without a fight, do they.