View from a Truck

Last week I took the opportunity to ride along with my husband. In our BC [before children] era I used to go with him on the truck fairly often. Out of sheer boredom, actually- there is only so much housekeeping that needs done with 2 adults in a house. After the children came along, it wasn't worth the hassle of lining up sitters and the like, but I missed spending the time with him and the inside view of his job. Now we have reached the stage where I have the freedom to ride along again.

Last week's run took us through mile after mile of this kind of scenery-

a Peterbilt hood and endless stretches of road.

Since I have no desire to learn how to drive one of these rigs -that would be a disaster! I can't back a trailer to save my life! -a trip consists of lots of sitting. Lots and lots. Occasionally some interesting scenery. Some conversation, crocheting, and a little napping in the bunk. The same stuff you get on a really long car trip. It never fails to amuse me when anyone asks to take a peek inside the bunk and says something like "Wow! I've never been inside one of these things before!", like a semi is some kind of magical theme park or something. It's pretty boring stuff, folks. Oh, there are some fancy show trucks out there -with all the trappings of a motor home, but we make our living off of plain working man trucks. There's nothing to see back there- a bed and a couple cupboard.

Sometimes you get to go through places like this -for a change of pace.

Since it wasn't rush hour, my hubby humored me by going through downtown Chicago, just for the novelty of it. Truth be told, watching him back into those narrow, muddy farm lanes in obscure locations is more exciting. [romantic?] lol

 

Sometimes you get to stop at places like this-

where you can pump gas [diesel, to be exact] from 2 pumps at the same time. If you're not familiar with trucks, they have a tank on either side and it costs in excess of $500 to fuel up. If you're fortunate, you might get 6mpg and that amount will last you 2 or 3 days.

You gotta make your stops count, so you get to use the truck stop restroom in whatever degree of cleanliness it happens to be in at the moment... and you get to eat whatever brand of food they happen to have. When you're in a car, you have choices at every exit; not so with a semi- you have to eat whatever they have where there is truck parking. It's not all bad though- we had some really good breakfast paninis at this place!

 

Here is my list of 10 Things I Learned in the Seat of  a Truck-
1. I'm proud of my husband. Greasy-collar workers are professionals, too.
2. I would hate his job!    
3. Many things can happen on the road -this is why he's often late getting home.
4. It's not as easy as he makes it look.
5. 80,000 # is a LOT of weight. This is why trucks slow down going up hill. Also why the same truck picks up speed going down the other side. It is why you should never, ever pull right in front of  a moving semi.
6. It takes a lot of patience to drive truck. Other vehicles do all manner of obnoxious, irritating, and dangerous things around him all day, every day. He gets "cut off" numerous time a day, people constantly pull directly in front of him with no thought of their safety -or his. There are also traffic jams, and waiting to get loaded... This would explain why he sometimes comes home stressed & grouchy.
7. Some people can read a map and drive at the same time. I am not one of them. It makes me nervous when other people do it. It also makes me nervous when all but 6" of the hood of that car in front of us in a traffic jam disappears, but I have learned this does not mean we have run over the back end of the car.   
8. Think twice before you do something private in your car. You'd be amazed what can be seen from the higher vantage point of a truck. Ditto for keeping your clothes arranged where they belong. Not all truck drivers are lonely, sex-crazed creatures, interested in "the goods".
9. The reason truck drivers flash their trailer lights like that after passing another truck is because they're saying "thank you for letting me over". There is a whole other language out there. Road rage addicts should take lessons from the professionals.
10. If you're married to a truck driver, it's a good idea to ride along periodically to get some perspective.

I'm really glad I went with R last week (it's good to see the places that are just locations/names on the paperwork), but I think I have enough perspective to last me for a little while again.
They say "if you have it, a truck brought it". When was the last time you thanked a truck driver?

Tournament Mom

Saturday was an 'epic' day. We had a son playing in a volleyball tournament for the 1st time. To raise money for a good cause.
I'm not a sports fan, but this is fascinating stuff. When "your" team is the youngest team competing, as well as the "newbies" to the tournament world and have not played together as a team before, it's edge-of-the-seat suspense. I wasn't screaming like a 16-yr old, but I was cheering -in a loud, dignified sort of way, of course. (I tried not to embarrass him. However, I believe I was the only mom snapping pictures. The cross my children have to bear.) If we're going to enter the competitive sports world, I'm glad it's volleyball- a game I at least understand.
While I enjoyed watching immensely, I would never have wanted to play! I was never athletic and was mighty relieved when I reached the age where participation in sports was no longer mandatory. In games of this intensity I would be the player cowering with my hands over my head when tall people, like my son, spike the ball! Oh wait, no I wouldn't. I would be the player no one ever ask to play on their team!  

 

This team had to work hard, but they made it into the play-offs.

You go, guys!

That's my boy in the #5!!

 

On the other hand, this is a new phase for us. I fear this local tournament will open the door for my young man to travel to more tournaments. Umm... I want him to make new friends and broaden his horizons, but he's way too young to find his way to far distant states and back without his momma along, right? Help! I need a scissors! Snip those apron strings quick!