After a Two Week Vacation, The Factory is Finally Open Again!
I haven’t been able to write for awhile and there are a few reasons for that. Summer is obviously in full swing, and all kinds of activities tend to get in the way of my free time. The other obstacle to writing is Connecticut. I know I wrote before about how it “Isn’t so bad” but I think it has been getting to me just a bit.
I have spent a couple trips a week up there for several weeks in a row- it became unfunny after the third week or so to learn that’s where I would start my week. It would actually put me in a mood for an entire weekend when I found out that’s where I was starting the week. Not once did I ever ‘make a little noise’ or ‘do a little dance’ when I called in and found CT would be involved on my next trip.
I can’t say for sure why I’m starting to dislike it, maybe it’s the traffic, or the grittiness that makes it feel like it’s neighbor, New York City. It has a few problem customers but for the most part the people are good and there are many customers I enjoy seeing.
Whatever it is, it has robbed me of my creativity, imagination and basic ability to even want to write. I wanted to though, and thought I should at least let people know I have not been incarcerated or fired without just cause. The good news is I’m still employed, and still love what I do.
I have had a great two weeks (in a row) without once hearing my dispatchers uttering the word ‘Connecticut.’ Looking back on these two weeks, it has been great, with my travels almost exclusively in Upstate New York. My Favorite. West Virginia used to be my favorite until for one reason or another the boys from Mississippi robbed it from us. So until I develop a plan to steal it back from them, New York is my favorite.
Those two weeks opened up my eyes to how much all those trips to Connecticut have been wearing me down. It actually made me had forbidden thoughts- at one point (hold on to your hats) I actually thought perhaps I should look into switching to another company where I could travel cross country. Just to get out of this State, go out and stretch my wings so to speak.
It was a one-time thought in a moment of insanity. I’m not going anywhere until my body gives out and that’s not going to happen anytime soon. I’m only twenty-one for gosh darn sakes.
If anything, two weeks away has reminded me why I loved this gig after I left Schneider. Back then, I spent every single week cris-crossing across Connecticut if not delivering somewhere inside of it. Lately it’s like I have been doing the same thing, only with a better paycheck and a nicer truck.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not here to whine while many people across our Nation go hungry if not homeless. I’m just explaining why I haven’t shown up here much (If anyone noticed). That will hopefully change though after my two week vacation enjoying New York and even Central and Western Pennsylvania.
The way writing works for me is like this: My mind resembles Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Little thought forms are the elf workers, running around doing their thing and eventually present me with an idea to write about. Often they work in overtime and give me three or more topics to write about in any given time. They hang around, bouncing about in my head until I have the opportunity to put them into words.
Spending that much time in Connecticut shut down the factory. It’s less fun then I’m used to having and going to work felt like, well, like going to work. I thought of writing but had nothing much to say. That’s a drawback to being a company driver- you go where they tell you to. Sometimes I just wish they didn’t keep sending me to the same place!
The good news is by the end of the second week away from Ct, the ideas have come back. After my two week vacation, the factory is once again open!
What is even neater to me, is the way both Fridays over the last two weeks have ended: In Rainbows.
The picture below was my welcome present when I got back into Leesport the first Friday:
This rainbow was presented to me in on 80 East within my last one hundred miles home this Friday:
It was a spectacular ending to two great weeks that were so much fun I forgot I was actually getting paid for it! After my last stop yesterday, while driving home I had another thought that hasn’t passed through my mind lately- One of just a bit of sadness that the week is over and now I have to leave the truck sit for a few days. It’s a thought that quickly passes and is offset by coming home to my family, my home and friends and all my other adventures that occur away from work. Either way, it’s a good feeling to have on a Friday.
Speaking of other adventures, some of my little elf workers in the factory of my mind have been presenting me with some other ideas to write about, some that don’t always include eighteen wheels. This is ‘my road adventures’ but most ideas that are bouncing around took a road to get to, so I guess they are fair game. In the future I may enable some of those ideas and write about some of the other things going on in my life.
I hope everyone had a great July 4th weekend. I know I did, and the best part about it is a full weekend at home with my Family and better yet- Starting Monday morning close to home, In Pennsylvania! I can’t help but wonder, could this be the start of vacation week 3? Pray with me folks, and see you again soon!
I have spent a couple trips a week up there for several weeks in a row- it became unfunny after the third week or so to learn that’s where I would start my week. It would actually put me in a mood for an entire weekend when I found out that’s where I was starting the week. Not once did I ever ‘make a little noise’ or ‘do a little dance’ when I called in and found CT would be involved on my next trip.
I can’t say for sure why I’m starting to dislike it, maybe it’s the traffic, or the grittiness that makes it feel like it’s neighbor, New York City. It has a few problem customers but for the most part the people are good and there are many customers I enjoy seeing.
Whatever it is, it has robbed me of my creativity, imagination and basic ability to even want to write. I wanted to though, and thought I should at least let people know I have not been incarcerated or fired without just cause. The good news is I’m still employed, and still love what I do.
I have had a great two weeks (in a row) without once hearing my dispatchers uttering the word ‘Connecticut.’ Looking back on these two weeks, it has been great, with my travels almost exclusively in Upstate New York. My Favorite. West Virginia used to be my favorite until for one reason or another the boys from Mississippi robbed it from us. So until I develop a plan to steal it back from them, New York is my favorite.
Those two weeks opened up my eyes to how much all those trips to Connecticut have been wearing me down. It actually made me had forbidden thoughts- at one point (hold on to your hats) I actually thought perhaps I should look into switching to another company where I could travel cross country. Just to get out of this State, go out and stretch my wings so to speak.
It was a one-time thought in a moment of insanity. I’m not going anywhere until my body gives out and that’s not going to happen anytime soon. I’m only twenty-one for gosh darn sakes.
If anything, two weeks away has reminded me why I loved this gig after I left Schneider. Back then, I spent every single week cris-crossing across Connecticut if not delivering somewhere inside of it. Lately it’s like I have been doing the same thing, only with a better paycheck and a nicer truck.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not here to whine while many people across our Nation go hungry if not homeless. I’m just explaining why I haven’t shown up here much (If anyone noticed). That will hopefully change though after my two week vacation enjoying New York and even Central and Western Pennsylvania.
The way writing works for me is like this: My mind resembles Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Little thought forms are the elf workers, running around doing their thing and eventually present me with an idea to write about. Often they work in overtime and give me three or more topics to write about in any given time. They hang around, bouncing about in my head until I have the opportunity to put them into words.
Spending that much time in Connecticut shut down the factory. It’s less fun then I’m used to having and going to work felt like, well, like going to work. I thought of writing but had nothing much to say. That’s a drawback to being a company driver- you go where they tell you to. Sometimes I just wish they didn’t keep sending me to the same place!
The good news is by the end of the second week away from Ct, the ideas have come back. After my two week vacation, the factory is once again open!
What is even neater to me, is the way both Fridays over the last two weeks have ended: In Rainbows.
The picture below was my welcome present when I got back into Leesport the first Friday:
This rainbow was presented to me in on 80 East within my last one hundred miles home this Friday:
It was a spectacular ending to two great weeks that were so much fun I forgot I was actually getting paid for it! After my last stop yesterday, while driving home I had another thought that hasn’t passed through my mind lately- One of just a bit of sadness that the week is over and now I have to leave the truck sit for a few days. It’s a thought that quickly passes and is offset by coming home to my family, my home and friends and all my other adventures that occur away from work. Either way, it’s a good feeling to have on a Friday.
Speaking of other adventures, some of my little elf workers in the factory of my mind have been presenting me with some other ideas to write about, some that don’t always include eighteen wheels. This is ‘my road adventures’ but most ideas that are bouncing around took a road to get to, so I guess they are fair game. In the future I may enable some of those ideas and write about some of the other things going on in my life.
I hope everyone had a great July 4th weekend. I know I did, and the best part about it is a full weekend at home with my Family and better yet- Starting Monday morning close to home, In Pennsylvania! I can’t help but wonder, could this be the start of vacation week 3? Pray with me folks, and see you again soon!
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