Murphy's World

Road trip teaches fiancée what she’s in for

I just recently went on the road with my fiancé (Special K). This is what I learned while being on the road for two weeks.
     First and foremost, truck drivers miss their families a ton. The road doesn’t replace their mother, father, wife or children. They have to be strong so they can come home to us. They endure a lot of alone time. Thank God for music and CBs.
     While you are doing the “housework,” your trucker is looking for the misplaced load. While you are writing out the bills, your trucker is perfecting his logbook so that he can provide the money to pay the bills. While you are playing with your children, your trucker is dodging dumb people who can’t drive. While you have the comfort of your very own bathroom, your trucker has to wait in line for a hot shower and hope that it’s clean.
     So the next time you meet truckers, be compassionate toward them. It's because of them we have the comforts of home. Thank them for the clothes, food, homes and cars they provide for us. The trucker doesn’t even know you, but he sacrificed his wife, children and family so you could be happy.
     Kahealani V.
     Raleigh, NC

Dear Kahealani,
Your letter serves to remind us that many of our loyal readers are the spouses of truckers. You make a lot of good points that even those of us involved in the industry either directly or as part of a trucking family sometimes forget. So to all you spouses of truck drivers out there, I hope you read this and give your main squeeze an even bigger squeeze the next time he (or she) comes home off the road.
     Of course, no one puts a gun to anyone’s head and forces them to become a truck driver. The fact is, people drive over-the-road for all kinds of reasons, including the simple fact that they like it. If someone truly “sacrifices” his wife and family to become a trucker, then I believe that person made a bad decision. While it’s not easy to maintain family ties while on the road, it’s certainly not impossible. The vast majority of over-the-road professionals do it every day, thanks to cell phones and loving, trusting people at both ends of the phone.
     Before I wander too far into colleague Golden Girl’s territory, let me end by wishing you and Special K a long and happy life together as husband and wife. It sounds like you already know what you’re getting into and, just as importantly, you understand what your hubby-to-be goes through. Stealing a line from “Casablanca,” I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Regards,

Murphy and Lucky Dog