10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

JANUARY 2005 TRUCKER TALK

DREAMING OF JULY 4TH
By Writers and Owner Operators Rod & Kim Grimm

If they can have a “Christmas in July” I thought why not celebrate the 4th in January. With the hustle and bustle of Christmas and New Year’s parties over, it’s a long haul to Memorial Day Weekend, and the kickoff to another summer. During the short, cold, dreary days of winter, why not think of nice, hot, summer things.

Warm up with thoughts of picnics, barbecues, baseball, swimming and going to your favorite fishing hole on a lazy, hazy, hot July afternoon. Imagine sitting in a rocker, on the front porch, with a big glass of iced tea, on a late summer evening. I’m already beginning to feel warmer. So hang out your flag, get out the grill (hamburgers and dogs hot off the grill are GREAT when it’s 5 degrees out), and think summer things. Here’s what some drivers are planning to do on the big summer holiday, the 4th of July.

Brett and Tammy Phillips of Menasha, Wisconsin, along with the kids, Robbi and Bobby, enjoy going to the beach between Two Rivers and Manitowac, Wisconsin, along Lake Michigan. Tammy was born and raised in Two Rivers, but Brett grew up in the woods of northern Wisconsin. From what I’ve heard, Brett is like a kid in a candy store, watching the fireworks over the lake.

This family event begins in the afternoon, watching the waves roll in and the ferry going by with loads of cars on the way to or from Michigan. Then they tailgate with sandwiches, chips and pop. The crowd on the beach grows until the show starts. From this point on the lake, they can watch the firework shows in Two Rivers, Manitowac, Cleveland and Sheboygan. It must be a spectacular sight.
Our friend Dan Peters of Lincoln, Nebraska, loves watching the fireworks. He also likes being home, roasting hot dogs, enjoying adult beverages, having the neighbors over and shooting off a few of their own fireworks. Getting out of the truck and relaxing at home with family and friends, taking a well-deserved break, is what it’s all about for Dan.

Roger and Sandy Mc Donald of Wausaukee, Wisconsin, like most of the others, look forward to going home, enjoying a few beers and watching the fireworks.

And now back to January reality. Our friend CD Martin pointed out a winter necessity that we forgot to mention in our November article. Be sure to have some toilet paper along with you, because you never know when (or how long) a section of road may be closed due to bad weather. And if you have the need to find a “spot” while stranded out on the road, you want to be prepared. Thanks for that reminder CD. I guess T.P. is like an American Express credit card – you should never leave home without it!

So as January drags on, as it always seems to do, keep your mind on summer and it’ll be here before you know it! Happy 4th of July (well, sort of).