Hi,
I was just browsing threw and saw this forum and had to post about the guy who has inspired me to persue a carrer in the trucking insustry, my dad.
About 3 or 4 years ago know my dad started to have major medical problems starting with a stroke and so on. It wasn't a big surprise seeing as he smoked quite a bit from the time he was about the age of 15 (Around 1955-1956) when his dad died until just a few years ago probly about 7 if im thinkin right. but he was a trucker for 43 years so when he was diagnosed with diabetes about three years ago it was very hard for him to pack up his bags and load the van up to come home for the very last time so he took me out to the truck stop and as usual I went back to drop the trailer and he came back and watched me and as we started to walk back towards the truck he got a look on his face that told me that something was up and instead of climbing back into the truck he walked around to my side got in the passengers seat and said lets go. I drove around the truck stop for a few minutes before it was time to go turn the truck in and that will probably be the most most memorable moment I ever had with him. but anyways about a year and a half ago he started having pain in his right side and so we went to get a cat scan done and unfortunatelly it came back positive for cancer. And after a hard panful 1.5 year fight with lung cancer I watched the man that I thought was invincible struggle for his last breathes as he laid there motionless for the total of 2 weeks in a hospital bed before on his next to last day after my mom, and other brother had given him a hug as I approached his and nelt down to give him a hug he flung his arm over my bodyand kissed me with lips that felt like to frozen steel plates and then never utered a nother word and never moved again just layed there for two days with the secreations from the cancer slowly drowning him. And I still don't understand how a man with a record of 43 years behind the wheel of a truck and having one wreck that was ruled not his fault with a such a kind and caring personality should have to go through so much pain. He made friends with every one he came in contact with and will always be known for "Never meeting a stranger" because of that.
Something that I had realized not long after his death was that his dad passes away when he was 15 and had he lived another month the same would have held true for him.
RIP Lil Jon (Dad) August 21, 1940- August 19, 2006

Wow!!!

I'm sorry about your Dad, but I feel blessed to read your story about him. You bring him honor. I'm sure he smiles down on you from above.

That was a very sentimental and loving post!

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Your story was hard for me to read.i lost my mother to it and my younger brother and dads gone also, You keep your head up and be proud for the way that he raised you. God will always take care of folks like you,I'm sure. Thank you for your true life story. God bless you.

Thanks for your post. My Dad had almost 40 years of safe driving before the diabetes,blood pressure and eyesight took his cdl's. I got passenger
insurance coverage to ride him as he rode me in the big rigs years ago. He
is in his 70's now but still getting around. It was really cool to do that before his health got too bad,so your story is worth millions of words to me, remember if you ever take up driving he will always be over there a
ridin shotgun in spirit.

Very good story..... Like the others say, you'll not be driving alone...
Thanks for sharing this with everyone....

-Bless yah bro,

Matthew