On the Job with The King of the Road

The smell of new asphalt reminds me of my father. So do calloused hands, cowboy hats, and Dean Martin songs but really, the strongest reminder, is asphalt.

When I’m driving down a freshly paved street in the summer, and I catch the light, chemical scent of new road beneath my wheels, I always scan the area for family trucks and I think of him. He is Dan Amorello, the owner of Dan Amorello Services Inc., in Worcester, MA. and the hardest worker I know. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.

Here he is. In all of his glory. A secret: he isn't always as angry as he looks. ..but, well, sometimes he is.

I observed him at work in Southborough, MA today. The team built a parking lot. It was hot and sweaty.

My dad started the company in 1990, when I was two years old. I don’t remember much because I was busy doing my own thing, learning to walk and talk or whatever, but I imagine it was an insane amount of work and not particularly fun. I guess having 3 kids (eventually 4) was inspiration. He wanted to support us. I remember when I was 15, my father was talking about his days at Emerson College, studying comedy writing. For the first time, I noticed a disconnect. “Dad,” I asked, “If you went to college to study comedy writing, why did you go into construction?”

He responded in a familiar mocking tone. “Well Alison, in comedy class, we learned there is nothing funny about being poor.”

And so, he worked and worked, everyday so his kids could someday go to college. Today, 3 of us have degrees and 1 is on the same track. Oh, me? I studied writing. I have no job, and less than 100 dollars in the bank. Whomp whomp. Whatever.

Anyway, my favorite part about my dad’s work is that it’s a family business. All four of us kids have been involved in one way or another. Some of us more hands on than others. This is my little baby brother, Anthony.

Isn't he cute?

Anthony wasn’t always as dedicated to wheel barrels as he appears. Roped into summers of paving before he even had a drivers license, the hooligan eventually rebelled. At the wise age of 17, Anthony announced his intention to leave the paving business and pursue his true passion… selling Cutco knives. …Hmm.. yeah.

Unfortunately, he only lasted three weeks. Soon enough, he was back on the team and working whenever he wasn’t in school. My father didn’t give him a hard time about coming back. I imagine it was sort of like the prodigal son, only less rejoicing, and more jokes at Anthony’s expense.

Anthony snacking while waiting for the next asphalt delivery. He offered me a bite. So generous. So gross.

Family.

I’ve always enjoyed hanging around my dads office. The walls are covered in pictures and magazine clippings, some requiring explanation as they come with good stories. The office is old, grey and full of character. And more importantly, characters. There isn’t a dull soul on my dads crew. The employees are young and old, clean cut and tattooed, bizarre and typical all at once. Many of them appear to be at least somewhat afraid of my father. I like that about them.

Dave and Derek, having a good time behind my dad's back.

So, the man in the orange there can be a little intimidating. Just ask my friend Vinny. He worked for my dad one summer, even after I warned him. 2 months later, after being taunted, nicknamed, and most likely verbally abused, Vinny was fired. He remembers it as one of the happiest moments of his life.

But that isn’t all there is to it. As serious as my father is about work, he is also hilarious. He is smart and cynical. He knows how to have fun. He plays pranks, calls his employees his “Flying Monkeys”, distributes big hams to all around Christmas, and makes everyone shut up and listen when a Norah Jones song plays, no matter what. Years ago, he made company tshirts that read “The sick part is, we like this stuff!” He admitted today, in a moment of seriousness I didn’t quite know how to react to, that things have been different lately. He doesn’t remember what he used like about the job. “I won’t print anymore of those tshirts,” he said.

Sporting a company tshirt.

And so, I am going to try to help him remember. I’m going to keep coming to jobs, taking pictures and writing about what I see. I’m going to figure it out for my dad, and probably pick up his lunch for him.

Why? Because, I am a jobless graduate with nothing better to do. Because I love the natural comedy that comes with observing people in their everyday jobs. But more importantly, because I love my dad! I want him to have fun again. He deserves it.

In my humble opinion, hes king of the road. Or at least king of building them.