His job has taken us to many places and through those travels I have met many wives who have asked the question "how can you let your husband do that?" My answer is always "would you forbid your husband from doing something that he was really good at that also in turn provided for your family?" Yes I know there is risk involved with his job but then there is risk involved with any job. And I'm not one who lives in fear of the "what ifs" anyway.
He was recently transferred to the Sunshine Mine.
This mine has definitely had it's ups and downs over the years but with new owners they are working to get things going there again. This same mine was hit with tragedy 40 years ago when a fire started underground. Unlike coal mining fire isn't normally something that is an issue with hard rock mining. Hard rock doesn't burn. However timbers, and other things that have been brought into the mine do. Our small valley was hit hard on May 2nd, 1972 when a fire broke out underground at the Sunshine Mine. 81 men were able to evacuate immediately, but there were still 93 unaccounted for. After 7 days of the parking lot being filled with families anxiously awaiting to hear the news of their men, 91 bodies were recovered and with what many call a miracle 2 were found still alive.
Well this past week another fire started in this same mine. It is rumored to have been sparked by a torch that some workers had been using, but it's still under investigation. We'll hopefully know soon enough though what exactly happened. In the mean time our men are off work until it's completely taken care of and the air is safe to breath again.
But even with my husband being off work again and all the effect that has on our family, I know it's only for a short time. I'm thankful for technology that has come along in the past 40 years. I'm thankful that the men who were working were made aware of the problem before anyone was hurt. I'm thankful that everyone was able to be evacuated from the mine safely. I'm thankful that all are accounted for. I'm thankful that there isn't a parking lot filled with families waiting to hear if their loved one is alive and safe. I can't imagine the torment that week in May, 40 years ago must have been like for so many in our small valley. The inconvenience of these men not being able to go to work for a week or so is nothing to them not coming home at all.
This past year has brought some heartbreak, worry and tragedy to our small valley. We've lost 2 men in another mine. We've had others injured. We've had many laid off and out of work. But even with all this, I'm still thankful for mining. Mining has provided us with a community that comes together and stands strong when one is in need. Mining has provided my family with a comfortable home to live is and food on the table. Yes there are risks, there are risks in everything we do. And even with all those risks I will still be thankful for mining and the technology that has made it a safer place for my husband and our friends to be.
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