What if it Snows?

to be fair ive almost done that. some of those entrance ramps are so confusing

 

Well, I’m going to tell a story, it may get long, but what is life?
Long for some, short for others, but never long enough for that’s life.

I know some have me blocked and that’s their right, they didn’t like the persona “The Jerk” but there’s a little jerk in everyone, sometimes and it’ll show, (go sit at a shipper/receiver 5 days and 6 nights and tell me how chill you’ll be as I’ve done it.) but that’ll be their loss on this, as they’ll not be able to read this.
But thats one of our amendment rights, which one, you ask, why the first.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Yeah, ...right?


I said, a long time ago on here, I legally started driving at 18, got my CDL on my 18th birthday, so I’ve had that longer then my car license, and motorcycle endorsement.
The recap: I was trained my my dad, then learned a lot from more senior drivers at the company I worked for that hauled intrastate using death trap trucks and trailers, I always thought, being a kid of 18-23 (two driving jobs for regional, one required experience I gained at death inc,) before the week after my 23rd birthday I swapped to interstate after getting my license updated dropping “Intrastate” off of it, and headed out December 1, with a structural steel load to Beaver Dam, WI though the ice/snow to what is now the Walmart distribution center, I ended up hauling there, then bounce to Urbania, IA for a load of tarped lumber in the snow, back to AR, then return to WI.
(You’re welcome Walmartians for the steel delivery in that cold cold wasteland of a frozen field it used to be.)

Anyhow, I heard earlier that another of the drivers that would help, and that I felt I knew my whole life, was found dead outside, beside his pickup by a neighbor.
He had to quit driving due to diabetes, and for last year was on dialysis M, W and Friday.
When the drivers were sitting in the old shop, with nothing to do, we’d make a card table, it may just be a big cardboard box, or a 30 gallon plastic drum trash barrel with a Delta King seed company sign over the opening, listening to Motown, or oldies, now,
Mostly Motown.
It seems strange to me, as he was only 66-67, but I have his number still, and could call or even knew where he lived, and have been over to his house and visited, and even commented on a photograph he had on the end table, that a young lady I remembered from school, and found out that was his daughter and we are the same age.
Maybe that’s why he always called me “Lil Brother..” ?
Everyone else pretty much gave me the “Judge” babe because everywhere I went people would judge I was young and couldn’t drive or back, but I was taught backing before ever going forward because, “any idiot can hold a straight line.” Yes I quoted that for a reason as that’s what I was told, repeatedly.

Anyway, back on track, I always thought, being young, inexperienced if you will, the guys who helped train/answer questions/moral support and so on were all 45+
And when you’re 18-23, you kinda notice you’re the only young guy, surrounded by “old” people drinking coffee and at that time smoking cigarettes or cigars, (used to could smoke indoors, but no longer in AR is that allowed, as several states,) But looking around the restaurants, most drivers were at least 50+ very few youngsters.
Now I’m getting middle aged, looking in the mirror and turning your head to one side, back to the other wondering who this is starring back with tired eyes.
But when I look around the restaurants, I’m one of the.. “old” guys sitting off by their self, drinking tea instead of coffee, but still,
I used to wonder sometimes, that one day I’d be in the group that helped me through some of the troubles that come with this profession, but now I’m realizing that’ll never happen, cause as I get older, they too, get older, the ones who are still alive.
I was told, “to pay for your training, you got to teach at least 10 more drivers to pay your way.”
I’ve taught a bunch, and the companies I worked for never paid a cent extra, as I was percentage based, and I never asked for more, but the ones I trained were shown on loads that were close and they either came back home that night or was put by the company into a motel.
But this rambling of mine has got long enough, just sitting and thinking back about the good times that were, and will not be again with the bunch of Lawhon *pronounced Law Hawn” (out of business now...18+ years) drivers.

So long to a friend and a driver of 30+ years Leroy “Country Cool”

 

Fun, this negotiation. Wife wanted couch. We drove down to Tupelo from New Albany to shop. She sort settled on one she liked. Lets say $500 (In 1969).
So I said well that's a lot, I would go 350.00. She quietly stole away to "look at something else...". I got him to $375 and we started paperwork. He had "Free Delivery", asked for address. Told him Jay Street in New Albany (37 miles away). He gulped, but stood hitched. Knew he had been had.
My wife from that day on... We would go look at furniture. "Mull and decide and come back after we talk".. Go home and she would tell me exactly which pieces she wanted. She would not go back to the store. I would go back and buy or not, but she could not stand the pressure.
She did not believe what I told her. "No one will sell you anything at a loss of less than he has in it." They just won't. So I don't feel for the seller.

 

Is this guy done talking yet?!

 

I enjoy long stories of the old days from anyone wanting to tell them. Except X1heavy. Couldn’t handle that LOL

 

back in the olden days you could haul #2 fuel oil and kero under the 1203 gas placard . So we just stuck 1203 on the tank and were all set for any load . But not any longer……..now you can flip cards every load ……

 

Don't take away his identity. He will have a schizoid embalism.

 

I’ve been called old 4 times this week. One Guy was joking, same as I used to. Today a 38 yr old said he always talks to older folks. I guess it’s official. Face is looking old lately. That’s Life. I too was always the young Guy on the Job. Mainly because the best Jobs are those with older Workers that stayed. I always looked for that. I always enjoyed listening to how it used to be. I just had a Snickers bar. A vending machine bargain at $1.50. In 1973, they were .10 cents. Hard to believe. In the year 2069, will a candy bar cost $22.00? Roughly the same, 15x today’s price.

 

Wuz they Elected or Selected ??

 

I had my kids later in life and would get comments from a grandma about how nice I was taking out my grandkids to Six Flags or to a restaurant. I would just smile and say no they are not my grandkids kids just my kids I have a very young hot wife.