Monday, 4 February 2008
Feb 3
This Rig's Not Moving - But Huckabee is!
Still in Denton. Haven't received the call to head east.
We've flooded Texas with 300+ signs and it's time to move the rest of these signs out. I will always miss my time on the road. Rolling down the highway is great (hard to knit with all the bouncing), but it's all the people along the way - the men and woman who serve, bringing us materials that we so often take for granted. These laborers are my new found heroes! They are The American Truckers. Thank You Trucker Randy for a Ride to Remember.
I call a taxi and head toward Dallas International. The driver is a Vietnam Vet kitted out in jeans, vest, skull and cross-bones bandanna, goatee and the long hair/sideburns. Our time together is spent discussing taxes and how Gov. handouts so often keep people from ever discovering their full potential by making and keeping them dependent. This resonates, because he is a Working Man by Golly! He was a Hillary supporter for the first 15 miles, and a Huckabee man when we pulled into departures. He asked for my "Mike for President" pin. I happily gave it to him.
My Mother's Girl.
I come from a Military background (WPAFB). My dad died in an Air Force plane crash when I was 3 yrs leaving my mom with three girls - 5 yrs and under. I can't remember a July 4th when mom didn't belt out the Star Spangle Banner or America the Beautiful as the local fighter jets roared down Main Street during the parade. I watched her tear up every year with patriotism and today, at Dallas Airport, I became my mother's girl.
Flying Back to the Buckeye State.
Dallas to Dayton is about a two hour trip. When I realized the woman next to me didn't speak English, I went to the loo and saw Carlos sitting by himself. Now that I lack the Fear-Gene, approaching people is not a problem. "Hi, who are you voting for?" "Hillary." With my new learned Texas draw, "Now, Why would you want to do that?! Aw, You must like to pay taxes." Carlos works for an American steel Co. We talked Chinese steel vs American steel and tied it into the benefits of having the Fairtax. He likes the sound of it all so I gave him some literature and hoped for his vote.
Dayton Airport.
My luggage is lost. I tell the woman at the service desk that I don't care so much about the two black duffel bags, "just get me my 'Trucks for Hucks' sign boxes." I turn around and starting talking to another couple whose luggage went astray when coming from Phoenix. I ask them about the local buzz on McCain. My poor mom tells me to stop talking to everyone and says she'll now wait outside. The service attendant says my luggage will be delivered tonight around 4am and for me to leave instructions. The couple coming from Arizona give me their business card (they sell crystals) and ask me to come to their shop in Yellow Springs, Ohio - Home of Phil Donahue's first televised news reports on the Vietnam Hippie Sit-In. Stay Tuned.
Best Is Yet to Come.
I'm Dead asleep. At 4:08am my phone rings. "Hello, I have your luggage. I'm sitting in your driveway." I race downstairs to unlock the door. Mike Ruby is a tidy and clean looking man. Even at 4 in the morning, he's extremely pleasant! Still a bit groggy but programed to utter the name Huckabee into every conversation - conscience or unconscious, I announce, "Those heavy boxes are full of 'Mike Huckabee for President' signs." About 15 minutes into the conversation I glance over and see Ivana Trump in the window's reflection. It's me. I went to bed with wet hair and it's now standing 2 feet high! My newly discovered Can't-Be Bothered-Gene kicks into gear and I carry on for the next 45 minutes. Amazing, this man is not churched but knows more Biblical history than many AND...get this, he learned it all on the Discovery Channel! We talk about Constantine, the Nicene Counsel, the incredible evidence supporting Christ, and how funny it is that after Christ died - traveling to hell and back and raised three days later - one of the first things out of his mouth is, "Do You Have Anything Here to Eat?" (Luke 24:41) "Now isn't that just like a man! The guy's hungry." I offer Mike some tea/coffee. He declines but leaves with 2 'Truck' signs and a want to know more about Christ.
I don't think this day could have been more exciting.
Still in Denton. Haven't received the call to head east.
We've flooded Texas with 300+ signs and it's time to move the rest of these signs out. I will always miss my time on the road. Rolling down the highway is great (hard to knit with all the bouncing), but it's all the people along the way - the men and woman who serve, bringing us materials that we so often take for granted. These laborers are my new found heroes! They are The American Truckers. Thank You Trucker Randy for a Ride to Remember.
I call a taxi and head toward Dallas International. The driver is a Vietnam Vet kitted out in jeans, vest, skull and cross-bones bandanna, goatee and the long hair/sideburns. Our time together is spent discussing taxes and how Gov. handouts so often keep people from ever discovering their full potential by making and keeping them dependent. This resonates, because he is a Working Man by Golly! He was a Hillary supporter for the first 15 miles, and a Huckabee man when we pulled into departures. He asked for my "Mike for President" pin. I happily gave it to him.
My Mother's Girl.
I come from a Military background (WPAFB). My dad died in an Air Force plane crash when I was 3 yrs leaving my mom with three girls - 5 yrs and under. I can't remember a July 4th when mom didn't belt out the Star Spangle Banner or America the Beautiful as the local fighter jets roared down Main Street during the parade. I watched her tear up every year with patriotism and today, at Dallas Airport, I became my mother's girl.
More American Heroes.
Today, all over Dallas International Airport soldiers are returning from and departing to the Middle East. A reception line comprising of war heroes and aging vets is planted right next to my check-in counter. While American Airlines work on my ticket, I join the reception line. Every Marine and Army man/woman who walks down this line shakes the hands of the men and woman who have bravely gone before them. Being the last one in line and knowing that prayer is the only thing that ALWAYS works, I told them that we'd all be praying for them and that God loved each one. It was as though they were flying down Main Street. It was difficult to hold back the tears.
Flying Back to the Buckeye State.
Dallas to Dayton is about a two hour trip. When I realized the woman next to me didn't speak English, I went to the loo and saw Carlos sitting by himself. Now that I lack the Fear-Gene, approaching people is not a problem. "Hi, who are you voting for?" "Hillary." With my new learned Texas draw, "Now, Why would you want to do that?! Aw, You must like to pay taxes." Carlos works for an American steel Co. We talked Chinese steel vs American steel and tied it into the benefits of having the Fairtax. He likes the sound of it all so I gave him some literature and hoped for his vote.
Dayton Airport.
My luggage is lost. I tell the woman at the service desk that I don't care so much about the two black duffel bags, "just get me my 'Trucks for Hucks' sign boxes." I turn around and starting talking to another couple whose luggage went astray when coming from Phoenix. I ask them about the local buzz on McCain. My poor mom tells me to stop talking to everyone and says she'll now wait outside. The service attendant says my luggage will be delivered tonight around 4am and for me to leave instructions. The couple coming from Arizona give me their business card (they sell crystals) and ask me to come to their shop in Yellow Springs, Ohio - Home of Phil Donahue's first televised news reports on the Vietnam Hippie Sit-In. Stay Tuned.
Best Is Yet to Come.
I'm Dead asleep. At 4:08am my phone rings. "Hello, I have your luggage. I'm sitting in your driveway." I race downstairs to unlock the door. Mike Ruby is a tidy and clean looking man. Even at 4 in the morning, he's extremely pleasant! Still a bit groggy but programed to utter the name Huckabee into every conversation - conscience or unconscious, I announce, "Those heavy boxes are full of 'Mike Huckabee for President' signs." About 15 minutes into the conversation I glance over and see Ivana Trump in the window's reflection. It's me. I went to bed with wet hair and it's now standing 2 feet high! My newly discovered Can't-Be Bothered-Gene kicks into gear and I carry on for the next 45 minutes. Amazing, this man is not churched but knows more Biblical history than many AND...get this, he learned it all on the Discovery Channel! We talk about Constantine, the Nicene Counsel, the incredible evidence supporting Christ, and how funny it is that after Christ died - traveling to hell and back and raised three days later - one of the first things out of his mouth is, "Do You Have Anything Here to Eat?" (Luke 24:41) "Now isn't that just like a man! The guy's hungry." I offer Mike some tea/coffee. He declines but leaves with 2 'Truck' signs and a want to know more about Christ.
I don't think this day could have been more exciting.
Saturday, 2 February 2008
Feb 1 - 2
The 5 Star Day.
Today we carried a Haz-Mat (Hazzard Materials) load 44 miles to Denton Texas. The GPS was messing us about so Randy slowed the truck down to a speed that I, being the daredevil that I am thought, "Ummm, I can jump out at this speed, get what I need and then run and catch up with this rig." No sooner and just up ahead did I see a Starbucks - and it was on my side giving me reason to think this whole idea was divinely inspired (at least it would be a good memory). What a friend! Right there on a busy business road, Trucker Randy stops our truck. I leap from the cab, bolt into the shop, ask the man last in line if he'd buy me a Latte while I used the Loo (British for restroom) and quickly handed him a Fiver. When I return, the coffee is not ready, so of course he is going to hear about Mike. That's when I heard HONK HONK. I grab the man's arm and ask him to run with me to the truck. Sadly, he has no family to think about for future reasons so I just tell him as I jump back in the cab, "Mike will Save You Money." I now pray this man finds a family more than anything else I could ask for or from him.
I love wholesome food. Junk food addicts find my love for avocados, carrots, fruit and plain full-fat yoghurt rather boring. While on this trip, Cracker Barrel is now - in my book - The 5* gourmet eatery of choice. BONUS: It's a great place to talk about Mike. While waiting for my Grilled Chicken Salad I dashed out to the truck for a phone charger. On the way, I saw a woman sitting in her car - just waiting. Twenty minutes later, she was still there. I approached her. Her story brought Praise for a God who loves us, but also tears for a world gone mad. This woman was waiting for her granddaughter to finish up her shift inside the restaurant. She reveled that her daughter had died 6 months ago and she - the grandmother - now cares for all five grandkids. We thanked God that we have a future meeting place.
Following Day: We're at the Barrel once again eating our *5 food. A tall older gent and his lovely wife come directly up and ask about the laptop on the table. Jeese Cook is a retired Baptist Preacher who has met Mike. Both he and his wife will vote Huckabee. Yeah!!
Now I'm downing my turkey on toasted whole-wheat sandwich when I notice our table has two Cracker Barrel games (take a peg, jump over and take the adjacent one) and hand it over to the two young college age students having a lunch together. Trucker Randy shows them how to win the game and we all start talking politics. Coming into the Barrel they liked Hillary. Going out - Huckabee.
Today we carried a Haz-Mat (Hazzard Materials) load 44 miles to Denton Texas. The GPS was messing us about so Randy slowed the truck down to a speed that I, being the daredevil that I am thought, "Ummm, I can jump out at this speed, get what I need and then run and catch up with this rig." No sooner and just up ahead did I see a Starbucks - and it was on my side giving me reason to think this whole idea was divinely inspired (at least it would be a good memory). What a friend! Right there on a busy business road, Trucker Randy stops our truck. I leap from the cab, bolt into the shop, ask the man last in line if he'd buy me a Latte while I used the Loo (British for restroom) and quickly handed him a Fiver. When I return, the coffee is not ready, so of course he is going to hear about Mike. That's when I heard HONK HONK. I grab the man's arm and ask him to run with me to the truck. Sadly, he has no family to think about for future reasons so I just tell him as I jump back in the cab, "Mike will Save You Money." I now pray this man finds a family more than anything else I could ask for or from him.
I love wholesome food. Junk food addicts find my love for avocados, carrots, fruit and plain full-fat yoghurt rather boring. While on this trip, Cracker Barrel is now - in my book - The 5* gourmet eatery of choice. BONUS: It's a great place to talk about Mike. While waiting for my Grilled Chicken Salad I dashed out to the truck for a phone charger. On the way, I saw a woman sitting in her car - just waiting. Twenty minutes later, she was still there. I approached her. Her story brought Praise for a God who loves us, but also tears for a world gone mad. This woman was waiting for her granddaughter to finish up her shift inside the restaurant. She reveled that her daughter had died 6 months ago and she - the grandmother - now cares for all five grandkids. We thanked God that we have a future meeting place.
Following Day: We're at the Barrel once again eating our *5 food. A tall older gent and his lovely wife come directly up and ask about the laptop on the table. Jeese Cook is a retired Baptist Preacher who has met Mike. Both he and his wife will vote Huckabee. Yeah!!
Now I'm downing my turkey on toasted whole-wheat sandwich when I notice our table has two Cracker Barrel games (take a peg, jump over and take the adjacent one) and hand it over to the two young college age students having a lunch together. Trucker Randy shows them how to win the game and we all start talking politics. Coming into the Barrel they liked Hillary. Going out - Huckabee.
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