Holiday Memories from the Road

As I was driving down this lonely stretch of road today, I got to thinking about some of the holidays that I have been on the road, and most by choice, and started to think about the real fond ones, and one kept coming up. Had a load going to FL a few years back and plenty of time so decided to get a hotel for the Thanksgiving evening. Pulled into a Super 8 in Dalton, GA and found out that under new ownership and still doing some remodeling. It was okay, since there was a Shoney's across the street. Nice Latino family purchased the place. Well after getting settled down in my room, get a knock on the door. It was the owners daughter asking if I had plans for dinner and I just said that I was going across the street and she politely told me NO. That I would be joining them, and declining was not a option, so I did.

When I got there I saw the largest feast ever on the table. There was so much food, and not just the family, but all of the family. All that I could do was sit down and enjoy. Fajitas, tacos and other items that I do not have a clue, but darn, was it good. Most of what was being said at the table I could not understand so every now and then the daughter would lean over and translate. Most of what I was hearing and seeing, I did not need translation. I could see the happiness and joy on the faces of all that was around. I just sat there quietly eating and sipping on my Dos Equis. I swear that the meal lasted about three hours. It was like all of the stress of the day was gone. No worries, just fun times.

It reminded me of when I would visit the wife and family in China during the holidays. It would be the same thing. One holiday evening, whether New Years or Christmas, we would all head out to some place and enjoy the evening. Most of the dinning rooms where upstairs, so when we checked in, you could hear the noise, but as you walked up, it got louder. When you get to the top, you could just see all the tables filled with families. Everyone laughing and having such a great time. Not a care in the world for the evening. The children running around, and yes, it is allowed there. The number of times that the children would run up to our table just to say, Hello, to this anglo, and run back squealing in laughter. I could look around and I knew, most of these families, they scrimped and saved for months for this one night out. At the end of the 3-4 hour meal, it would be a battle as to who was paying. At our table, I always lost. The other tables, shouts of Gam Bia (cheers), and it met, down the hatch, and then look to see who was going to be needing the help getting home. Yes, one time me. My brother in law was spiking my scotch. He was forgetting to pour the water in.

What it mostly made me remember, that through all of the hustle and bustle of every day life, it was time to sit and reflect. I know that many of us here, well, we would just pull out the plastic and worry about paying it off in a few months, and over there, well, that celebration met a lot, and the next morning, they would start the saving again for the next holiday, which was about 5-6 weeks away.

I know that there are many of us oldies on here that have some fond memories. That was just one of mine. Another, being sent to a small town to deliver only to find that CSR messed up and they were closed. Then having a employee see me and pick e up and taking me to their home after getting the truck and trailer parked inside the gate. Everyone, have a happy happy and be safe.