Deadhead Miles

I have to confess to something. Nothing that would cause me an embarrassment. No, not even a blush. I love truckin'.

For me, machines of all kinds held special sway over my heart. Cars, trucks, tractors, engines of all types, monster towering buildings, ships, submarines, planes and trains have all fascinated me. Who builds them, who drives them, who maintains them and more importantly, can I do it? Can I play with them too? You betcha!

One memory I cherish is the time I rode with my Dad in this '53 or '54 Chevy pickup I think it was. I stood on the edge of the seat and stretched my little 4 or 5 year old body over the short dash and gripped the air outlet for the defrost with my pudgy 4 or 5 year old fingers. Looking out the right side of the split windshield, I must have been a sight with my wide grin and wide open eyes. Hell, I was in a truck, I was with my Dad, I was in 4 or 5 year old's heaven. I miss my Dad.

I've pursued ways to make sure that I got to play with all kinds of machines. Or at least to be around them. Some jobs was in the oil patch, they have all manner of machines to do all manner of things, both on shore and off. I did heavy industrial electrical installs and remodels and such. Rebuilt generator sets and installed massive solar heating plants. Spent time in submarines and learned to sail. Built chemical plants and other plants and saw cranes, some the biggest in the world, do their jobs. Fascinating I tell ya.

Now, I drive a big truck. Peterbilt. Hauling the same type machines that have fascinated me for years. It just goes to show that if you want to do something bad enough you'll do what it takes to get it done. I hope you have been going after whatever you dream about. Life is just not long enough for to many detours, to many deadhead miles, know what I mean?