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Biker's Conversion
From foe to tour guide - by Gary Clark
Reprint from the 2001 Spring Roundup
Many domes ago, I helped build a Monolithic Dome church in Hemet, California. My assignment was to spray polyurethane foam - a long, tedious and tiring job. It was break time, so the job foreman offered to buy some cold drinks. As I waited for a drink, I relaxed outside and took a break from the hot and humid environment inside the dome.
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| A Dome Owner's Worst Nightmare. |
I noticed some wood piled up outside the dome so I laid down to relax. I could hear the hum of cars buzzing by. Then I distinguished the sound of one particularly loud motor. It was a Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by a very large man. He slowly approached the building, turned off the motor and stared studiously at the dome.
I was hoping he would just turn the motorcycle on again and continue his journey, but just the opposite happened. He leaned the bike on its kickstand, got off, neared my resting spot on the wood and initiated a one-sided conversation.
First he asked, "What in the world are these things?" I tried to tell him about Monolithic Domes and give him my standard 30-second description, but he wouldn't listen. It became apparent this man had been drinking. Not only had he been drinking, but he seemed to have a personal vendetta. He continued to ask questions that didn't even deserve a response. He blurted out questions like, "Did you know these are the ugliest things I ever saw?" and "What would you do if I painted these domes pink and put flesh tones on them? Then, you could call this place DollyWood or Dolly Parton Acres!" Even though he laughed, I just smiled and wished intently he would go away.
I was not in the mood right then and there to deal with this foe who obviously didn't have much respect for what I did for a living. I felt no need to convince him of the dome's benefits. The building would be built whether he liked it or not.
Before long, I was rescued by the job foreman who returned after getting us cold drinks. I grabbed a soda, then quickly introduced the foreman to the visitor. I said to the foreman, "This gentleman has been looking around and has some inter esting opinions about the dome." I walked away leaving him with the visitor. The job foreman decided right then and there to give him a tour. After a lengthy conversation between the two of them, I noticed them going inside the dome. I stayed outside to enjoy the cool evening air and before long, they stepped out of the dome - still talking.
At that time, I reentered the dome to finish foaming and within forty-five minutes I had the job completed. I left the dome and noticed straight-away that the foe had left and had probably been gone for about 40 of those 45 minutes I was inside working. So I wasn't worried until I suddenly heard the familiar sound. Fear entered my heart again as I heard not one, but many motorcycles thundering down the road to the job site.
I don't remember all the thoughts I had at that time, but I do recall saying to myself, "Oh great, I wonder what the number to the local police department is."
Imagine working many long hours in warm conditions wearing a spray suit, a respirator and all the necessary safety gear and then working yet another hour. My mood had not improved.
The thought of being cordial with this man and his friends was more than I could handle.
As I watched the bikers, I was shocked to observe a great change in the foe's attitude. He hadn't come back to taunt, tease or create problems. Apparently, the dialogue with the job foreman did some good. The foreman took time to teach our foe the benefits of Monolithic Domes.
I watched in amazement as these bikers drove up, took off their glasses, leaned their bikes on their kickstands and gradually wandered around the dome following our foe - who had now become our friend. Now, he was acting as a Monolithic Dome tour guide - teaching his friends all he had learned earlier from the foreman. He even took them inside for a tour.
After the tour, they cordially left the job site. At this point, we realized we had possibly converted a great group of friends to the benefits and uses of the Monolithic Dome.
I learned that day that you never really know when a foe might become a friend. As people learn the positive aspects of the Monolithic Dome it always becomes a positive learning experience.
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