TEN FOUR MAGAZINE - TRUCKING ON-LINE MAGAZINE FOR TRUCKERS

DECEMBER 2003 TRUCKER TALK

CHRISTMAS CHEER
By Owner Operators Rod & Kim Grimm

Another year has flown by and it’s time for Christmas already! My thoughts turn to making and sending out many boxes of candy, getting out Christmas cards, and something most girls love, shopping!!!

As drivers we aren’t limited to our local area – we have the opportunity to shop across America. Some truck stops have wonderful gift shops. Iowa 80 in Walcott, IA is my favorite place to buy goodies, with lots of unique gifts and cards. “R” Place in Morris, IL isn’t as large but still has some cool stuff. I’ve seen Christmas stuff in Pilots, TA’s and Flying J’s (some of the new Flying J’s have a room especially for gifts). It isn’t hard to fill a bunk, like Santa fills his sleigh. I’m sure I’m not alone during the holiday season when it comes to sleeping with lots of gifts for loved ones back home. Move over Lizzie, mom’s been shopping.

Some presents don’t have to cost much to mean a lot. I once got Rod’s dad a 99-cent worry stone. He told me I should’ve saved my money, he didn’t need anything. Rod’s mom later told me how he thought he’d lost it and was frantic. When he had his stroke nearly three years ago, it was still in his pocket.

Sometimes I think the greatest gift any of us could get is more time. It seems like 24 hours isn’t nearly enough in a day. With all the things to do and places to be, I’d love to have a day to do nothing. Not too long ago I had the opportunity to spend just a few hours with my best friend. We didn’t get the whole day, but we had a great lunch and enough time to catch up.

Most people drive around town to look at all the beautiful Christmas lights – we get to drive all around the country and enjoy big displays in yards near the interstates and in all the little towns along our two-lane routes. I love the lights, especially after a little snow, with a full moon shining down! I remember years ago, when we used to run Hwy 54 through Kansas, a little town that had entire streets that were decorated. I always looked forward to driving through that town at night.

This is also a time to look back over the year at all the good and bad that happened. I hope you had much more good than bad. We really have had a good year. Despite Rod’s two carpal tunnel surgeries, my “park” (it’s a 60 X 80 flower garden) that Rod and my brother Paul worked on was finally finished, and we did really well at the truck shows we went to – especially for our first year being combo. Now Rod’s shed is almost a complete workshop, thanks again to my brother. On our acre we now have a “park” and a shed – I’m looking forward to getting the house soon! I don’t know why everyone thinks we’ve done it backwards.

It’s really hard sometimes to get everything ready for the holidays when you’re on the road for weeks at a time. Things people take for granted doing at certain times, we have to do when we can work it in. Before getting on the road, I always had our Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving. Not anymore. For the last few years, I hand-stamped our Christmas cards, but this year I think I’m going to get a picture of Rod, Lizzie and I for our cards – I’ve run out of time to do it the other way. More than one year we’ve had to shop on the road and then turn the bunk into a wrapping center when laid over somewhere. Hey, it saves time when you do get home!

I love seeing how some drivers decorate their trucks! Christmas lights, wreaths, stars, Santa, and bows, some wrapping their truck up to look like a giant present. Drivers, dig your Santa hat out of the Christmas decoration box and put it on, Santa needs all the help he can get and who better to help him than truck drivers? It’s easy to carry a box of small candy canes and hand them out to toll takers, other drivers and sometimes kids. Spread a little Christmas cheer!

It’s also nice to come home to a mailbox full of Christmas cards from friends, instead of just junk mail, catalogs and bills! Many of the cards we receive are from friends we haven’t heard from since last Christmas. The Holiday Season gives us a good reason to keep in touch at least once a year.

I think the holidays bring out the best in drivers. On the CB I hear more “Have a Happy Happy and A Merry Merry,” and “Take care and God Bless,” or “Happy Holidays to you and yours.” Wouldn’t it be nice to hear these kinds of things all year instead of all the complaining? Maybe that would make a good New Year’s Resolution – to say something nice instead of something not-so-nice or downright nasty!

Decorate your truck, put on your Santa hat and help me fight all the scrooges out here. Let’s bring some holiday cheer to the highways across America! Happy Holidays to all, and to all a safe night! We hope Santa brings you and your family all the things you want and need.