Edward Bridges

I was in the Army back in 1999, but now I am doing what I said I was going to be doing back in high school: working for the railroad!

I am the regular conductor for the Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad here in Marion. I've been at it for almost 7 years now (the 13 months I worked here back in 1986-87 counts toward my railroad retirement!).

I've went from working here at the railroad to two different grocery stores (Sheehy's Foodland and Millstone Market) to the Army for 8 long years to working in a meat packing plant in Texas to laying concrete around Marion to working back here at the railroad again.

How many of you are doing exactly what you said you would be doing 20 years after high school? I am doing exactly what I wanted to do. Those who laughed about it are probably not doing what they always wanted to do. Always remember: what goes around always comes back around. It may take a while, but it comes back around, trust me, I know!

I sort of kept to myself back during school. I am still sort of a quiet person, just do not get me started on politics! (Yes, it is a sore spot with me).

My Kodak moment:

Four years perfect attendance (I went to school sick or not, just as well with some of the crap I had to endure in some of those classes). Sometimes school was canceled due to snow, but I found out there wasn't any school that day because the doors were locked once I got there (I got to school early and did my homework in front of my locker).

Sometimes the I beat the janitor to school.

Do I miss high school, yes and no. I miss some of the friends I had back then. I do not miss the building or my various lockers (I used to jump lockers quite a bit. I still have the number plates from the lockers I had).

I haven't been back to the school since I got my diploma. I've been by it a few times, but I haven't been back inside it since and really don't care to.

I used to sell extra shelves for lockers to Freshmen I took out of empty lockers. It was fun to watch those idiots try to put them in (mine were riveted in myself so I didn't have to bother the neighbors).