union because he had to be in order to get the job he had at the time. The union went on strike when I was 5 years old. He had voted against the strike. Union members were required to take shifts walking the picket line carrying signs regardless of whether they supported the strike or not.

One day his picket line shift came at a time when my mom had to be at work. He couldn't get a baby sitter for me, so he brought me. The yahoos in charge had a tiny picket sign for kids that they enthusiastically produced for me to carry. I can just about guarantee that violated more than one law. I found out later that dad was seriously peeved they expected 5 year old me to carry a picket sign. In hindsight, I'm a little peeved about it myself.