Off The Cuff

Today Is Our Day Of Thanks..Happy Thanksgiving To All

Posted by: From Arkansas in Family stuff, Holidays, My Take on Things on Nov 22 2007

Welcome back!

For a lot or reasons, giving thanks today is fantastic! I do realize that there are folks who do not feel that they can find something to give thanks for but this day is to remind us of who we are and where we came from. That, in itself, is enough to give thanks. More often than not, we cannot think of things to be thankful for right away. That has happened to me, especially in difficult times. And yes, we have had some very difficult times, some this year.

Yet, there is always something to be thankful for regardless of the situation. Now, I do know that this is not the worst story ever told but it gives me reason enough to give thanks.

As some know, I was an over-the-road trucker for several years. One year, when I was running alone, I headed out to California to be laid over on Thanksgiving. I was just outside of Los Angeles at the truckstop in Ontario. I had already unloaded for the day. Going out there, there was a trucker friend that had run with me most of the way from the east coast. We made plans for Thanksgiving Day and I was looking forward to them. We had in mind to see Disneyland. That was one place I had not visited before.

Some time, around 10:30am or so, my dispatcher…who by the way, had already told me I was off for the holiday….decided I needed to make an extra run and gave me a dispatch to go way down into the city to pick up a load bound for Nogales, Arizona, to deliver on Thanksgiving Day. Awww come on!!! But he said it was a quick load and made money for the company. As a company driver, I really could not refuse it.

It was awful getting to downtown Los Angeles that day. I parked in the street because there was no other way. The people loaded my truck very slowly so that by the time I could leave, the rush hour had already begun. It took me several hours to go about 50 miles. By that time, the trucker friend was making other plans. I did not blame him. We both knew that this was possible.

I took off for Nogales, Arizona, knowing that I could unload early if I got there early. I pushed it. The truck was actually unloaded quite quickly and I was free to do what I wanted at about noon. GREAT!!! Except for one tiny detail. The receiver gave me over a thousand dollars cash that I was expected to protect in Nogales, Arizona. Sigh. So, my day just went south. I could not leave my room because of the cash. I did not want to carry it around. There was no way to secure it either. And, to add insult to injury, there was nowhere open to get a good meal. My meal was a couple of bags of potato chips from the vending machine and a candy bar….and I was alone with no one to talk to. My family were all either in Arkansas or Iowa. They were celebrating. What a beautiful day!!!! Yeah right.

Because of that day and one other, I cannot help but be thankful for my family, friends and the fact that I am heading to a celebration as soon as I get off the computer. What a beautiful day!! Yes! RIGHT!!!

Happy Thanksgiving from Off The Cuff!!! May your day be blessed and rich!

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