Posted on Facebook on Christmas Eve 2021 by Robert “Bob” McDowell
It was 3 days before Christmas 1986. I was an owner-operator for CRST in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and drove truck all over this country. I had picked up a load the day before in Florida and it was going to Minneapolis, MN after Christmas, so a perfect load to get me home for the Holidays.
I was getting my day started and stopped at a small truck stop just south of Atlanta to get fuel and some snacks. It was a beautiful sunny day. I went inside to pay for my fuel and noticed a young lady with 3 small kids sitting outside the truck stop. I also noticed a couple of old suitcases with them. I kinda smiled as I walked by. I came out and they were still there. I said hi and noticed she was crying. I kept walking and got in my truck. I could be home by midnight if all went well. I started my truck and sat there.
I kept thinking of her and those kids. I couldn’t put my truck in gear. So, I shut it off. I walked back over and said hello again. “Are you ok? Are you waiting for someone?” No, she was at her end. She was trying to get home to her parents. Her car broke down, no money to fix it, and it was a junker anyway, and no husband that cared. I looked at the faces of 3 little girls and thought “well I was raised better than this.” “Where are you wanting to go?” She said it was a small town south of Indianapolis. Not really the way I was going to go home but no big deal. “I can take you if you would like a ride. I am actually headed that way.” Oh, the smile I got! I grabbed the suitcases and put them in the storage area of my truck and loaded everyone up. The girls got in my sleeper and Mom got in my passenger seat, away we go!
But not yet! Mom, we are hungry……Ok well everyone out of the truck, lol, its time for breakfast! We went back inside and I’m not sure when was the last time they had eaten, and it was a good time to get to know each other.
This was a time before cell phones so I had her call her parents on the payphone and I also had her give them my name and truck number so they wouldn’t need to worry. I can still hear her crying on the phone.
After a HUGE breakfast it was back in the truck and off we went. It wasn’t too long before everyone was asleep in the sleeper. I am guessing she had 3 girls ages 5, 7, and 8. I have kids like that in TaeKwonDo class now. It was a fun trip that day to Indy hearing those kids laughing and seeing her smile. We pulled into a truck stop south of Indy and her parents were waiting for her! And their grandkids! It was a wonderful reunion.
I got a lot of thank yous and hugs, said goodbye, and headed towards Iowa. It was very late when I pulled into Colesburg. I parked my truck and walked home. I always wonder if any of them remember that trip they had in the big blue truck. If not, it’s ok. A different time, no cell phones, no Facebook. Well, Merry Christmas everyone. I love you all.