Back in December of 1976, as a young ex-serviceman, I found myself in a line of 30 job applicants outside the trailer at a New Hampshire ski condo development. Jobs were scarce that year, so I was disappointed but not surprised when the super stepped out and said, "Thanks for coming by, men; we're all set." But my spirits rose again when he paused and said, "Unless any of you are first-rate stair men." My grandfather and father had taught me to build stairs as a kid, and now it was paying off. Out of the shivering crowd, only I and the guy right behind me stepped up — and
