Truck stops 25 years ago

If you notice; everyone is shying away from the term truck stop. Most are truck plaza's now.

 

My family took several real road trips every year. Our familes lived all over the country and we stayed in touch. We would travel 2 or 3 days to get to a family pig roast, bar-b-que, crawfish boil, etc. My parents always stopped at truck stops. Most of them were actually secure and clean, because people cared and took care of each other. Drivers took care of each other, too, and were usually pretty friendly to others on the road. Truck stops were not only places for fuel, but you could see drivers had friends sitting at the counter and were welcome there. You could always spot them. Most wore cowboy hats, baseball caps and heavy work boots back then, and all of them had a coffee thermos. Waitresses actually wore real uniforms, were made up well and had their hair done and SMILED!!! They knew drivers were a long way from home and only wanted a good meal and to relax. Not to mention they actually cared about your coffee cup or iced tea glass being full. Kids would get their cheeks tweeked or heads rubbed by a smiling trucker walking by your table. And that was acceptable and friendly. Food was good, trinkets, mints and gum around the cash register, bobble heads for sale, folding road maps in a rack, and a trucker that didn't mind giving you directions or a warning if you were going "north of here" because of hazards he just passed. An old juke box in the corner playing "North to Alaska" and "Abeline". An old woman who had been "Cashier" there for over 35 years and loved truckers and children. Trucks were Macks and Diamond Rios.

Nowa days, it's only a convenience store with extra parking and more fuel pumps, and a small fast food joint with some idiot who can't count, trying to take your order. It'll never be the same again.

 

This does bring back some nice memories...

 

hmmmm it is missing the 3 before the 9!

 

A convenience store with extra parking....... 3 exits away on the get on ramp.

 

But think of the exercise you get walking to the restroom.