Oh Yeah, I had another crazy week. I’m convinced that if I ever live a “normal” week I’ll think that’s unusual.
Let me begin with an overview of the last seven days. I left for work Monday afternoon around 2:00 pm and didn’t see my humble abode until almost 7:00 pm Friday. I expected to be back Wednesday afternoon.
That’s the life of a truck driver I guess, especially one who drives for a temporary agency.
I did see a lot of new roads at least.
I’ve been driving for several companies for the past eleven years I’ve lived in Texas. For reasons beyond reason I finally had my first delivery into New Mexico. No, not the country of Mexico, there actually is a state called New Mexico. I think it was the 48th one added to the union quite a while ago.
I knew I was in for a shock when I drove through places called Sudan and Muleshoe before I ever hit the border on my way to Clovis.
The shock came when I realized when you drive from Texas into New Mexico you go back in time.
As I crossed the border I thought I heard a faint high pitched piano theme in my head: dee-doe-dee-doe-dee-doe-dee-doe
I’d been checking the clock on my phone frequently because I had to be ready to unload the mattresses at 10:00 in the morning. Before I could leave with this load I had to go to the leasing company to have some light issues repaired. Those took over an hour to fix only adding to my stress level.
I had a ten hour mandatory stopping period for sleep. That was already included in my plans.
It was just after midnight when I checked the clock on my phone before I crossed the state line. After I rechecked the time in New Mexico it was eleven something. I had to start Tuesday all over again because Monday just didn’t want to stop.
This twilighted zone meant I had until eleven o’clock to begin my work day now. That meant Tuesday was only going to see two deliveries accomplished instead of the three I hoped to do.
The good news was that I was still on schedule, just momentarily more confused.
Before that run ended on Wednesday I received word that the next run was already loaded and ready to go.
That meant I had a choice to make. I could drive through rush hour traffic thirty miles home or hook up the next trailer and get a head start on that half of the week.
When it comes to driving in heavy traffic it’s always better to have size on your side. I chose to stay in the 18-wheeler. Saving sixty miles of gas in Clifford’s tank helps in the long run too.
The last delivery on Thursday was in the city of Uvalde. No that’s not a misprint. It’s pronounced oo-vall-day, unless you’re totally unfamiliar with the Spanish language, then I guess it’s you-val-dee.
However you prefer to say it you have to drive 90 miles west of San Antonio to get to it. The hill country becomes flat farm land as you near Uvalde.
I noticed the small butterflies after I cleared the big city. This time of year I’m always on the lookout for my favorite bug, the monarch butterfly. These were much smaller but had a similar coloration.
I didn’t see their larger cousin. After a few miles I didn’t see much of anything because of the butterfly guts on my windshield. The attack of the killer butterflies was in full force.
The life cycle of many moths and butterflies is quite pathetic when you discover their destiny. They live quite a while as a caterpillar of some sort. Then they wrap themselves into a small enclosure of some kind for a few weeks or months before they’re able to fly.
Once they get wings they have only one desire in their short life…reproduce and do it now, baby.
Well, the memo obviously went out and the little butterfly orgy was in full force.
After a male deposit his sperm in a female he dies. The female lays her eggs and she breathes her last. So much for flying free longer than you had to crawl around. I warned you it was pathetic.
An experienced driver knows that if you don’t have an excellent wiper and sprayer on your vehicle you don’t even think about trying to wipe bug guts off your windshield. Like I just said, I wasn’t even tempted to touch that wiper switch.
Fortunately the sun was at my back as I drove out of the killer butterfly zone back into the big city.
After I cleared the big city I stopped at a truck stop for two reasons. I had to clean my windows and get some food.
It took two good attempts to clear all the bug guts off the glass. Then I took my tiny broom with no handle and swept the grill clear of butterfly wings so the engine wouldn’t over heat.
When I came out with my sandwich I found some blackbirds feasting on the grilled bugs lying in front of my big rig.
Yeah, we truck drivers are good to our feathered friends.
I don’t know what kind of zone you find yourself in now. Mine isn’t a good one presently. I’m being humbled.
I don’t know when I’ll drive out of it.
I hope you do as I’m doing.
Trust that you’re so close to God because of what Jesus accomplished for you that your name is engraved on the palm of His hand. Isaiah 49:16
He has a tight grip on you and so does Jesus. John 10:28-29
They ain’t never going to let you go. Hebrew 13:5
They promised us all that.
I know they plan on using me to build their kingdom before I breathe my last.
I hope that’s your goal, too.
I’ll see you later. Wade
