Ketchikan has job potential. Alaska had 21 years of job gains up until 2009. After a year without, Alaska added 1,800 jobs in 2010 and 5,200 in 2011, according to the Alaska Department of Labor.

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Former Ketchikan resident Mike Thomas, 47, died Dec. 20, 2011, in Mohave, Ariz. He was born in Salem, Ore., on Nov. 25, 1964, but was raised in Ketchikan.

It's easy to be patient in theory.

But when rushing to work, maybe a wee bit late, it's sometimes difficult to maintain one's calm. "Yikes! I'm late! Let me through!" might be the reflexive reaction to seeing the flagger's "slow" sign swivel to "stop" as we approach the North Tongass construction zone.

Yet the flaggers are courteous and helpful (giving directions if needed to the first vehicle in line, sometimes along with cheerful wishes for safe travels). They're doing one of those jobs that's often appreciated only for what doesn't happen as a result - seeing a loaded dump truck barreling towards one's car certainly would make one wish a flagger had been alerting us to stop before it was too late.

In the larger scheme of things, the job must be appreciated, too. When the work is done, both out the road and in the city, all our lives will be improved. During a carefree, dry summer, the little niceties - paved roads, up-to-snuff water and sewer lines - aren't the subject of much contemplation. We are more likely to be thinking about how much we are enjoying the weather.

But come September's rain (amazing how it's like clockwork, isn't it?), it's useful to have a storehouse of better-things-coming topics to contemplate. Well built roads and sturdy underground lines are among those.

There will be long waits and short waits. Having a book or a small handcraft like crocheting available is a good use of time for those who don't listen to the radio or audio books while stopped. If someone else is in the car, the driver and passengers can take the opportunity to indulge in the oft-neglected art of conversation.

Sometimes, it's refreshing to have a brief, unavoidable occasion when we can't go anywhere or do anything but sit, breath deeply, and stare into space.

The road projects will be done soon enough. In the meantime, let's drive slowly when we can move on the broken pavement, enjoy the respite from the rat race when we can't and wave our gratitude to those who are working out in the sideways rain to make our lives safe and (eventually) better.