Roll on highway, roll on along
Roll on daddy till you get back home
Roll on family, roll on crew
Roll on momma like I asked you to do
And roll on eighteen-wheeler roll on
Yep, my Daddy was a Trucker!
And...Ya'll may have a hard time believeing this, but...My Mama was a Trucker, too!
It was one of those, "If you can't LickEm...JoinEm thingies!
So, Mama got her CDL (ClassADrivers License), and joined Daddy on the 'BigRig' haulin' everything from 'Swingin' Beef' to Cabbage all across the USA.
Now, being as I'm a Truckers Daughter, I know a thing or two about 'Truckers' and 18 Wheelers.
#1 All Truckers DoNot wear those 'Gimmie Caps. Ya'll know the ones...as described by Wikepedia...Really!The design of a trucker hat is similar to that of a baseball cap, with a slightly curved bill in front, joined triangular sections forming the hat, and a button on top. Instead of being made of cotton fabric like a typical baseball cap, the front section of a trucker hat above the bill is foam, and the rest is plastic mesh for breathability. The foam front of the hat stands up straight and stiff, which makes the trucker hat taller than most baseball caps. There is an adjustable plastic snap closure in the back to ensure that one size fits most.
My Daddy always, and I mean ALWAYS wore his Cowboy Hat!
All the 'Truckin' Memories' were triggered by yesterdays 'OnTheRoad Again' Trip Hi Honey and I made to Midland, Texas. It's another of those roads we travel often, so the scenery and PhotoOp is 'BeenThere DoneThat' stuff. However, this was NeatONikon's first trip down Highway 87 and shooting through the windshield proved to be entertaining as well as getting some great shots of passing trucks and the amazing Texas Sky along with a few splats of bug guts....that's a trucker term.
#2 I know you are dying to know...Yep, I have driven an 18 Wheeler with my Daddy sitting right close by to help with shifting 18 gears. It was all I could do to steer and just for the record, Officer, I only wiped out ONE Mile Marker sign.
PS...FYI...Most all 18wheelers have anywhere from 8 to18 different gears in them depending on what transmission is in the truck. When you shift gears you are moving a sliding collar on the transmission input shaft and splining it with a gear mounted on the output shaft. Since these engines don't have synchronizers in them like a car or pickup has you have to use doubleclutching to slow the gears back down in order to get the gears to mesh together for the next gear change.
See...I told ya'll I knew a thing or two about Truckers and 18 Wheelers. Thanks, Daddy!
Someday I'll tell them about your Texas Cowboy Trucker in New York City story!
I spent many years in Orange, Texas, as a kid, sugar, and didn't get my drivers license until I was married and had 2 kids (in California). But my hubby told me I had to learn to change a tire before I did. (Nuuuuu, he's not a tyrant, just that I needed to be able to do that.) He also told me that always and I mean ALWAYS give the trucker the right of way because I could stop my car a lot easier than he could stop that truck. I've always had the greatest respect for truck drivers cuz that ain't an easy job, chick!!! My hat's off to them! Where would this country be without truck drivers. They're one of my heroes!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Connie
My Daddy taught all of his Kids to have the greatest respect for 'Truckers' and their contributions to this Country!
ReplyDeleteWe learned from his Example!
He was my HERO!
Thanks for your comment!
Sue
It's a hard life to be a trucker and be away from home constantly and sitting all day long takes it's toll on the body.
ReplyDeleteThis country would be nowhere without truckers.
Love your header shot!
Di
Oh My Gosh Sue Sweetie...
ReplyDeleteI tell you, you just keep on surprising me with all of the wonderful things you have done.
Now you have shifted 18 gears. Girl you have truly lived. I always wanted to climb up inside of one of those BIG trucks and just honk the horn. But you got to drive. I remember them passing the farm and us kids would hear them coming, we would run out there and pump our arms up and down to get them to honk. That was the joy of each day. What memories those were.
Yes my Grandpa was a trucker, long before I was born and they were the transporters of everything in our lives. Without them nothing would get anywhere. We were raised with the upmost respect for them, and still have today. Never pull out in front of trucker, they can't stop on a dime like a car can wait.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful post today Sue. I have so enjoyed myself.
Country hugs sweetie...Sherry
YOU GO GIRL!!!
ReplyDeleteOnly one mile marker? We've always had respect for truck drivers. One of our best friends drove trucks cross county for a while. (now he does computer stuff)
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures today! I love the one of you mirrored in the window taking pictures.
Love it. I can just see Momma behind the wheel. And I used to love the truckers more than I do today as it seems like lots of them now try to intimidate all the little folks. Bet your papa was a class act though! XXHugs, Mollye
ReplyDeleteWow, I think a trucker's job is soooo hard. Especially now, when time is always a major push. I guess it was back when too. Anyway I am afraid of those huge trucks and stay clear of them. I amremembering that movie about truckers. I loved it but can't remember the name of it. I bet you do though. Smile. I am picturing you getting up in front of your class on show and tell day. My daddy's a trucker and my Momma is too. Your friends would have been so impressed with an adventure loving job like that. In those day truckers were widely respected, not so today.
ReplyDeleteLove your story. My parents jobs were boring compared to yours HA!
Hugs, Jeanne
You are having a lot of fun with that camera! Yay!
ReplyDeleteHey, won't the pups pose for you? I think they would! Just putting in my request for dog shots!
love love