Me n' the Labor Leader 'n TheLou

I didn’t know what to expect when I walked into the office.? I didn’t know anything per se about labor unions, labor union leaders, or Jimmy Hoffa.? It was a hot summer day.? I wasn’t quite sure what one wore to a meeting with a labor union leader.? After all, I had spent most of my days “dog and ponying” with a bunch of other show ponies in Finance.??

I had only learned about these guys since returning to St. Louis.? Back from the Florida Keys where I had been aggressively engaged in passively dying. I heard them. On our local radio station.? KSHE 95.? Local One Bricklayers were advertising.? I was driving and strategizing.?

We wouldn’t meet until nearly a full year later.? Just enough time for me to do a tremendous amount of research on the geo-political climate of the 1930’s and subsequent trajectory of organized labor.? And write a book about my own somewhat, meteoric trajectory into a career in Finance from homelessness.?

After a good deal of internal debate, I decided to go with the black dress and skip any accessories? - along with the due diligence. I was out of my depth.? Meaningless. ? And easier.? There would be no pitch,? no flyers, brochures, business cards or even an elevator speech.? I had yet to rehearse the new version that included the five years of dying.? I hadn’t expected to need it. As much as I didn’t know what to expect.? I suspect he thought he did.??

We sat down at the table in his office. ? Unpretentious.? Unassuming.? Tough to read. So, basically - a St. Louis guy.? Not to be underestimated.? We hit it off instantly.? I told him who I was MY-style.? F-bombs.? Strong opinions.? No excuses or apologies about who I was - or what I was there to do.? The clock is ticking Buddy.? On my life.??

I wanted to know why I hadn’t run into them (Labor) - yet.? After all, I had been rolling around the industry talking to some pretty notable players (Housing Policy Council, Urban Institute - types) about my long-held belief that the answer to the housing crisis was firmly in the center of the intersection of construction, LABOR, and housing finance for well over a year. None of them had disagreed. He agreed that this was a valid question.?

We touched on Hoffa.? He is well-read on the topic.? Having read over 50 books on the related subject matter.? His close personal friend - the creative force behind Ozark.? I told him of my interest in writing my second book.? Focusing more on the Hoffa’s early years.? Surprisingly he had offered to read my first book.? A manuscript really.? A mere draft. A “tell-none” about my life. ? I doubted he would read a word of it.? But was flattered none-the-less.??

I mused that Hoffa was reportedly a faithful man. His “associates” reported such without reservation.? I referenced reading that he met his wife Josephine at a laundromat - where she worked. And he was organizing a strike. Hoffa said he felt like he had been hit in the chest with a blackjack when he met her.??

The ORIGINAL POWER COUPLE ALL CAPS, I remarked.? Why isn’t anyone telling that story?? Everyone is a “gangster” these days.? Few are Labor Leaders of profile.? None are Hoffa. ? He agreed.? Besides…….I remarked tangentially (this is a hallmark of mine from time to time)? For some O.D.D.? reason - I can’t stand Dick Cavett.? The guy just totally pisses me off.? He paused seemingly amused.? But then seemed to agree with that too.

I asked him if he would consider collaborating on a book. He didn’t think he would have time.? I said I understood and wasn’t sure that I would either.??