Are you really reading my blog on Thanksgiving? Ok- maybe the family isn't awake yet. I guess that is 
OK. I have so much to be thankful for. Last year at this time, my wife Roxanne had a terrible fall. She was an EMT and a school teacher. While rushing to help a student she fell and sustained serious injuries. She lost her pulse in the ambulance. You can only imagine how thankful we are to the EMTs, and other medical people. She had to retire as an EMT, but is once again a teacher. We have a new normal. It is good, and we are thankful.
While she was recovering friends came out of the wood work. I think that I gained 10 pounds while Rox was in the hospital. Friends, neighbors, and coworkers kept bringing me food, mostly cookies. I ate them. I probably should have given them to the dog. My trucking families at Freightliner and Paper Transport were both supportive and understanding. I had to take more that a month off. Not one person had a problem with it.
This year we lost my brother George. It was unexpected. I took a week off at a moment's notice. It was 
never questioned. We disconnect from our extended families as the years go by. We have our own children. Then they have children. Our nieces and nephews become parents and create their own families. We are happy for our brothers and sisters, but know that we will see less of them. Our parents have passed on. We no longer have that nucleus. We have become that nucleus to our own families. Reach out to your brothers and sisters, now.
As much as I may complain about the trucking industry, I am thankful for it. When I became a driver in 1988, I was “between” jobs. In this industry you, if you do your job well, you will always have one. You can remain a company driver. You can buy a truck and become a one truck owner operator. If you are really motivated, you can build a fleet. I never wanted to take that step. The place that I want to be is as a 1 truck owner operator leased on to a company. I am thankful to be at the place where I am, comfortable.
Our generation connects in different ways than the generation before us. I have seen too many videos 
of struggling truckers. No one got out to help them. This year get out to help them. Educate them on the way it is supposed to be. We are supposed to help each other. Even if it is just watching their blind side as they back into a tight spot. Put that computer or camera down. Help.
What we do has value. Make sure you realize that. We are a vital cog in this economy. If you see a trucker doubting their self worth, make sure you let them know how valuable they are. We work with too many people that just don't care. Don't let yourself be one of them. Then give thanks by helping a fellow trucker see that they are one of us.