My husband, Steve, joined the Alabama Power team shortly after the birth of our now 16-year-old daughter. I remember the two of us being so excited about this opportunity for him and our family. Steve and I had taken turns putting each other through college. I had taken a position at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika as a RN about a year prior. Our financial situation was about to greatly improve.

What I didn’t realize was how much time Steve would spend working away from home. It wasn’t just storm trouble, but broken poles due to car wrecks and wires down due to wind and house fires that sent him out at all times of the night.

Ashley and Steve Oliver (Photo courtesy of Ashley Oliver)

As a new mother I started to dread those “call outs” and his sweet words, “I don’t know when I’ll be home.” I quickly had to overcome my own fear of severe weather as Steve was never home when the storms hit.

Many times while enjoying a meal at a restaurant, he’d get called out. We’d get our food to go and the kids and I would sit in our car at the Alabama Power warehouse while he worked a case of trouble.

It wasn’t all bad though. Alabama Power helped us both to mature into the people we are today. Our marriage is stronger because we have adapted to situations that work throws our way and learned to come up with solutions together instead of being angry. Over the years, I have met and become friends with many of Steve’s co-workers and their spouses. Alabama Power is definitely a large family that takes care of each other.

We now have two children and life is great. I think having a lineman for a husband and father makes us appreciate all service workers more.  We know what they sacrifice daily and on holidays to keep us from being inconvenienced.

I have been married to Steve Oliver and Alabama Power for nearly 20 years now. As I often say, “They aren’t so bad. I think I’ll keep them.”

Ashley Oliver is married to Steve Oliver, who is a lead lineman on the Valley crew.

Starting with National Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18 through Alabama Lineman Appreciation Day on June 6, Alabama NewsCenter is honoring those men and women in the state.