A Dangerous Place to Work

Livermore Lawrence Lab
courtesy Google Search

 

Years ago, I received a request to mail in a written referral for my friend, who was applying for a job at the Livermore Lawrence Lab. 

There was a rumor going around that people that worked for or lived near the lab, were getting cancer at an alarming rate.

Immediately this was denied by the people in Washington, even after it was shown that the lab employees were being diagnosed with cancer at the rate of three times what the people who were not associated with the lab were. 

They were dealing with the development of Nuclear weapons projects at the lab and did have some radiation leakage.

I was concerned about my friend possibly being exposed to radiation and eventually getting cancer, so I carefully worded the reference letter.

Yes, I have know this woman for many years, and she is honest and a hard worker.  One of the questions asked was, “Does she have any faults”

I answered, “This flaw probably will not be reflected in her work life, but she is always late to the church that we both attend.  I have never known her to be on time for church unless it was the change in daylight savings time.”

Then I prayed and hoped that she would not get the job.

 
My friend asked me if I sent back the reference, and I told her, yes, I did.  Then I laughed and told her exactly what I had said, and she thought I was joking, so I left it at that.

As it turned out, the Lab employees must have chuckled at my honest reference, and what ever the reason, they decided to hire someone else.

My friend was disappointed, but within a very short time, she obtained a much better position at the same company where her husband was employed.  This meant only one car was needed for the two of them to work.

Many time things will work out fine with out interference from good intentions.   

 

However my friend is almost age eighty and I believe she would have been dead many years ago, if I had not answered the letter as I did.

 

This post is shared with Ramona at Friendship Friday with Joy