Abandoned
In the 1980s a factory in Kane, one where I would actually work after I graduated from college, prepared to welcome their new general manager, recruited from the ranks of General Motors. They performed what they thought to be a rather thorough housekeeping of the plant. Shortly after his official tour, the new general manager told the manufacturing manager (Randy, actually) that the plant looked like an “abandoned *expletive* factory.” Needless to say, this was not what anyone expected to hear.
In the following years, with a lot of effort from the entire workforce, they realized many ambitious goals, and the plant did not look like an abandoned factory any more. In fact, when I joined the engineering staff in 1994, it was a relatively tidy, productive place brimming with enthusiasm and promise. It was still a very exciting time for American manufacturing.
I recently drove past the factory because Myles wanted to see where Mommy used to work. It has been closed for only a few years now, but I wasn't sure what shape it would be in. I happened to have my camera with me. All I could think was, “Now this is what an abandoned *expletive* factory looks like.”
In the following years, with a lot of effort from the entire workforce, they realized many ambitious goals, and the plant did not look like an abandoned factory any more. In fact, when I joined the engineering staff in 1994, it was a relatively tidy, productive place brimming with enthusiasm and promise. It was still a very exciting time for American manufacturing.
I recently drove past the factory because Myles wanted to see where Mommy used to work. It has been closed for only a few years now, but I wasn't sure what shape it would be in. I happened to have my camera with me. All I could think was, “Now this is what an abandoned *expletive* factory looks like.”

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