I am starting to write again Ladies, but this time, I am writing my own story, instead of writing to benefit others.... These are MY stories. The story of how I got dragged into the industry, and how I got to where I am. LOL! Some of these stories will make you laugh, and some will make you cry, but all are something you will understand! These are the Reader's Digest versions.

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I grew up around the trucking industry. My father was the night shipper/reciever for the largest citrus processing plant in the San Joaquin Valley. I hung out on the loading docks every chance I got. I saw trucks come and go. I knew the "regulars" by name, truck number and destination.

I also knew them as people. I knew about the missed birthdays, missed anniversaries, and holidays spent delivering loads. When I was a teenager, mailing a card or letter for the driver was a normal occurance.

My mother was their "Momma Hen". She frequently did laundry, or cooked them a hot meal, or let them use our shower, or our phone. We had some horrible phone bills in those days. In return, they played with kids, fed the dogs, and even fixed the fence once. Yes, Momma was their darling.

All of us watched weather, and traffic, and knew "our boys" were out here. We all prayed for their safety, and more often than not, those prayers were answered. I dreaded the times they were not. It was like losing a family member.

Sitting on those docks as a teen, I often wondered where the trucks went. I wanted so much to go. I wanted to see the world. But there was one thing I NEVER wanted to be. I never, never wanted to be a trucker's wife.
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My venture into being a trucker's wife actually started on September 11th, 2001. It had been a long time in the making, but this is where it came to head, so to speak.

You see, my hubby worked in the same citrus processing plant that my father had. And we had been through several very bad years. The citrus froze in 1990, and again in 1998, and had never quite recovered.

We were surviving on partial unemployment and food stamps, and the garden in the backyard. The last year he worked for the citrus plant, we made less than $16,000 for the whole year.

Little did I know that the events that happened in NYC, Washington DC, and in a farm field in PA would have such a huge impact on me. I was a small town girl in CA. Yes, I was terrified, and yes, it nealry killed me what had happened to those people, but I had no clue that this was going to completely change my life!

On September 12th, I was cutting up squash ans green tomatoes to fry when my husband came home from work. I was in a pretty good mood. This had been a full work day, which meant we were going to have a few extra dollars!

"Bonnie, you know how the unemployment office has been bugging me to get some training outside of ag?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm going to do it."

"Okay." At this point I am thing he is going to do something normal. I should have known better.

"I'm going to learn to drive trucks."

Those words were the opening shots of World War Three. I remembered the implications of being a trucker's wife!

The squash burned to a crisp. The kids snuck across the street to Grandma Jenny's. And the arguement went on into the wee hours of the morning.

I never agreed to this. Not once! So how did I get here?

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WOW! Very GOOD Writing....I've got the feeling of, "Wanting to Read more"

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Thank you. I've always love to write, and have for years put it to use for others. Now it is my turn to put it to use for me.

I'll be posting some of the "Reader's Digest" versions as I finish them. I am seriously considering turning it into a book, but I have no clue how to get it published.

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GuysLady,

There's publishing companies out there that will take your stuff. Do an internet search for publishers, get together a manuscript, and start mailing them out. Maybe you could title it something like "Memoirs of a Truck Driver's Wife". You know we'd all buy it. I like the bit you've already posted and would definitely like to see more. Good luck.

T

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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketsup.


Somewhere there is an energy leak.

It's a dog eat dog food world.

One of my friends who does write for a living has read alot of these... He's got a publisher ready and willing to publish the whole thing! I just have to finish!

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Let us know when. I for one would like to purchase it.

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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketsup.


Somewhere there is an energy leak.

It's a dog eat dog food world.

Y'all will be among the first to know. I promise!

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