Carlos and I brought in the new year at our 2nd home...The Dixie Inn fuel stop in Minden, LA. Our original plan was to go to Shreveport and watch the fireworks but it was cold, cold, cold and raining. Now, we already don't like the cold and we certainly don't like the cold in the rain so it didn't take us long to decide that fireworks in Shreveport were out of the question. We spent a nice cozy night snuggled up on our wee tiny couch in our truck watching fireworks out the front windshield that were being shot off in the park across the woods from us. We also watched the greatest band ever on tv playing live in Mobile, AL...The Village People...NOT!!! And who needs to see The Ball drop in NYC...not us...we saw something even better. We watched a moon pie drop in Mobile. Now people really...The Village People and a falling moon pie...what could be better!
New Year's Day...I don't know about you but the New Year's Day lunch is a very important lunch. Our parents have drilled in us that no matter what, we must have black-eye peas, collard greens, rice and cornbread. The black-eye peas are for good luck and the greens are for money; the rest, I guess just goes good with the other. Well, just because we were in the truck didn't mean this year was going to be any different...except maybe for the collards. I'm sorry but those things stink to high heaven. I can't stand the smell of them in my house and the thought of stinking up LC was...well, it wasn't going to happen. I'd probably still be smelling those things today. Thank goodness it's all superstition or else we would be busting our hineys for nothing. We did have a very good meal though. I cooked some stew beef with carrots and potatoes, rice, black-eye peas and cornbread. I kinda skimped out on dessert so Carlos went to the Huddle House and bought us a hot fudge brownie cake with ice cream. He asked me if I wanted to share one or have one by myself. "REALLY...I want my own!" It was surprisingly very good. We hate we missed spending the day with our family but as long as we are together...all is good!
We loaded January 2 in Minden with another control building for the Solar Farm. Back to Boulder City, NV we went. If you remember this is the farm that is built in a Tortoise sensitive area with the Tortoise Crossing signs. I was so hoping I'd get to see a crossing Tortoise this time but once again no Tortoise in sight. Maybe next time. We successfully unloaded in Boulder City and loaded right back going to....CONNECTICUT. I do believe we have lost our minds. Y'all know we do not do cold! You are probably asking the same question I kept asking, "What were we thinking?" Originally, we thought it was the money talking but we later realized it was the Lord.
Timothy took an extra week of vacation so he didn't leave when we did. He left the following week taking a control building to Boulder City. He loaded on Friday along with several other trucks and on Sunday morning while in New Mexico sleeping...WHAM! A super trucker decided Toot's truck needed a little remodeling. He ripped the front bumper off, tore the lights out and messed up the fender. I know accidents happen but when they do most people stop and check things out...not this driver, he kept right on going. I do not understand how someone can be so inconsiderate, disrespectful and just plain sorry. I am so thankful that Timothy wasn't alone. The drivers with him also heard the commotion and jumped out of their trucks to try and stop the hit and runner but to no avail. Do you remember the episode of the super trucker hitting us and me getting out in the freezing cold with just my pajamas on...Timothy is a lot like his mama! It was freezing...in the 20's and he jumps out with just his jeans and a jacket on...no socks, no shoes, no shirt. One of the drivers with Timothy unhooked his truck and trailer and told him to get in. They knew which way the trucker went so they off they went, to track him down. They even went to the New Mexico scale house to see if the truck could be seen on video but of course, the video camera wasn't working. Now picture this! Timothy standing there talking to the DOT with no socks, no shoes and no shirt. He is very proud of his truck and works hard to keep it looking good and when an A-1 driver hits his truck and keeps going the last thing on his mind are clothes. The DOT rode down to the truck stop, wrote up the accident report and told Toot what he had to do for his truck to be legal on the road. Instead of spending his day off relaxing, he and the other drivers spent most of the day patching, bending and fixing his truck so it would be road legal again. Then on Tuesday...yep, there's more...his truck broke down in Flagstaff, AZ. Once again, Carlos and I are so thankful he wasn't alone. I think there were six or seven trucks traveling together to Nevada and when Timothy said he was having problems and hit the shoulder, they all hit the shoulder. They looked at his truck and advised him on what to do. They helped him find a good shop and tow truck and even pulled his trailer to the nearest truck stop. All of those drivers with Toot were under permitted loads and could only travel during the daylight hours. There wasn't a lot of daylight left when all this happened but they stayed and helped. One of the drivers even stayed at the truck stop to keep an eye on his trailer until we got there. Why in the world can't everybody be like these guys? It really isn't that hard to be polite, kind and helpful.
Sitting at the truck stop and watching your son's truck pass by hooked to a wrecker is not a pleasant sight. We were able to postpone our delivery date by one day which gave us time to take Toot's load to Kingman, Az where one of the drivers that had been with him earlier met us and picked up the trailer. This driver drove all the way to Boulder City, dropped his trailer and drove back to Kingman to get Toot's trailer so his load could be delivered on time...that is team work. After spending three days in the shop and a boat load of money he finally got his truck back, went and got his trailer and has now reloaded headed back to Georgia so his buddy at Real Life Kustom Services can get that baby looking good again. We are now on our way to Connecticut for a Tuesday delivery and then we are off to Chicago, IL. Ok, Lord you know we are not cold weather people. Timothy is going home, we have no family up north so please send us back to the warm weather. One trip up north is enough.
I have to share...when Timothy was riding with Carl for his training, I had several people ask me why I stayed home and didn't go with them. My answer was...."Are you kidding me? Carlos, Toot, me and Spice all in that truck! I don't think so!" Well, we experienced a little bit of what it would have been like. Toot stayed with us Tuesday night in the truck...yep, all three of us. The plan was for him to sleep on the cushions on the floor...well, things do not always go as planned. Since I am the shorter, smaller of the three guess who got the floor...you guessed it...ME! On top of that, I had to use a towel for a pillow because someone forgot to get theirs. When we were trying to get settled for the night Toot said, "Y'all really didn't think this thing through did ya?" Not sure we were thinking at all! He and Carlos both offered to sleep on the floor but I said I'd take one for the team...although, neither one of them offered me their pillow. I read something the other day that said Your children may get older and grow up but they will never be grown. Some of you may think we baby Timothy too much or we need to cut the cord. We don't baby him...we love him, we support him, we encourage him, we pray for him, we are proud of him and as long as Carlos and I are on this earth we will do whatever we can to be there when he needs us. I don't care how old you are, you are never too old for your mama and daddy. My parents have traveled many, many miles for us and Carl and I will always do the same for our Toot Toot.
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
No matter what our circumstances we are to give thanks to the Lord. It is easy to give thanks when life is running smoothly but it takes faith, love, commitment and trust in the Lord to give thanks when life hits a brick wall or takes a curve too sharp for us to handle. It is so easy to sit around and sulk during our troubled times but it is during those times that we get our strength and perseverance to carry on through Christ Jesus. Instead of having ourselves a little pity party, as Christians, we are to keep our minds focused on Christ and give thanks for His goodness, mercy and grace. It doesn't matter what is going on in our lives there is always something to be thankful for. Expressing our thankfulness to our Lord is the first thing we should do each day. Giving thanks for the sunset...the sunrise...the rain...the snow...the voice of our loved ones, the test that came back negative...the healing of a loved one...the birds chirping...the laughing of a child...finding your keys...the touch of a tiny baby...the food on the table...nothing is too big or too small for God. Expressing our gratitude and thankfulness puts a smile on His face and shows our love for Him. I know the things that Timothy went through did not directly happen to me but they did affect me. I am thankful that Timothy wasn't riding down the road when his truck was hit. I am thankful that he wasn't hurt when he got hit. As bad as the damage is, I am thankful that it isn't worse. I am thankful that when his truck broke down he was in Flagstaff and not in the middle of nowhere. I am thankful Carl and I were able to be there for him when he needed us. I am thankful for the truckers with him who stayed and helped.
Timothy's year did not start off the way he had hoped. He went from smiling and laughing to being upset, depressed, frustrated and stressed in the matter of just a few hours which he had every right to be...he's human. Things in life happen that are completely out of our control. What matters is how we let those life mishaps affect us. We can choose to live a life that is filled with sadness and a why me attitude or we can refocus our hearts and minds to the love of our God. We can choose to live a life of thankfulness even in the midst of troubles. Timothy didn't let his troubles get the best of him. He is right back to his crazy, funny self. Although, he probably wants to put a sign on the front of his truck that says "Caused by an A-1 trucker." The idea of people thinking that he doesn't take care of his truck or the fact that it doesn't look "SHARP" drives him crazy. But in just a few weeks, it'll be a sharp good looking truck again.
Til we meet again!
Only by His grace,
Lynne
