I was crossing back into Canada this morning from Detroit, Michigan to Windsor, Ontario via the Ambassador Bridge. This bridge, as usual is undergoing repairs, with the accompanying lane restrictions. I was struck by the thought that life is a series of bridges.

Birth is a bridge between wherever we were waiting, to the beginning of our life on planet earth. Education is a bridge from our childhood into the responsibilities of adulthood.

Marriage is a bridge between the selfishness of ourselves, to building a cohesive family unit. Employment is the bridge which carries us from depending on others to self sufficiency and the pride of accomplishment.

Retirement is the bridge that takes us from a life of productivity and experience, through a period of reflection and self evaluation into a time for reaping the rewards of our efforts. Boy am I ever looking forward to that one.

And the final bridge carries us into the great unknown. Possibly the next great adventure in the ongoing saga that is our souls existence. Some folks agonize over this one or try to avoid thinking about it. I view it as just another great bridge I haven’t had a chance to drive on yet. I’m just hoping its not under construction when I get to it.

Another Transportation Route

Isn’t technology wonderful? Here I am in a truck stop in Oak Creek, Wisconsin on a Sunday. I have no internet connection for my laptop, (mainly because I’m too cheap to pay the five bucks for the short time I’d be able to use it).

And yet, thanks to a little free download, I’m able to post to my GrumpyOldTrucker blog directly from my Blackberry. And don’t get me started on the Blackberry. In my estimation its the greatest single piece of communication technology to come around since the discovery of the hollow log.

Oh I know, some of you are very happy with your regular cell phones or the snazzy new iPhone but for me its Blackberry all the way.

And look at that, I can even add a photo directly from my Blackberry’s camera. Mind you its not the most exciting spot to be clicking pics, but beggars can’t be choosers.

This is my first attempt at using this new software but if it works as well as advertised you just may be seeing more regular posts from me.

By the way. I really would welcome more feedback from my readers. If there’s anything you wish to see more of or any suggestions for future posts leave me a comment. If you wish your comment to remain private just say so, as comments don’t become live on the site until I approve them anyway.

I look forward to comments and suggestions. Keep your stick on the ice.

GrumpyOlTrucker

On Tuesday the 18th of May, my mother Florence Parker (who is 84 and visually impaired) and I, spent the day out shopping together. It was a beautiful sunny day and we had already made several stops around town, working through our list of errands. 

Everything went well until we stopped at Staples in the middle of the afternoon. When we came out of the store, the van wouldn’t start.  My first thank you goes to the staff at Staples for the assistance they provided, enabling me to get in touch with CAA.   MacKenzie’s Towing would be there in about a half an hour…Fantastic!

No Go!!

So mother and I waited, hoping it was perhaps just a dead battery. A quick boost, and we’d be on our way. But such was not to be.  Glen put the battery pack on, and found the battery was fully charged. After checking around under the hood for a any visible problems, he informed me we’d have to take it to a garage. 

The battery wasn't to blame.

Glen let me use his cell phone, to call our son James to come and get Grannie.  Glen then helped us carry her purchases into the Staples store where there was a bench just inside the doors and it was cooler than out in the parking lot. He then went and had a chat with the cashier, I assume explaining why the little old lady was waiting on the bench. 

He then loaded the van on  the tow truck and I got in. He made a circle around the parking lot and then stopped facing the Staples door. He looked at me and said, “We’re not leaving until your son gets here. I could not thank him enough. Soon James drove in, I had a quick word with him, then ran to let Mother know he had arrived.  She could not see us, but had heard the motor of the tow truck running, so felt relieved we were still in the parking lot, hoping we would be there until James showed up, which we were.

Then with me back in the tow truck, off we went to the Debert garage where we dropped the van, and then Glen, though it was out of his way, drove me home to Belmont. No doubt this was just a typical day in Glen’s  life as a tow truck driver, but for me and my Mom, his caring and concern turned a stressfull afternoon into a much more positive one. He took the time not only to assist us with the van, but went out of his way to look out for both of us.  A true gentleman indeed who deserves far more than this small recognition. Both Mother and I extend our sincere thanks and appreciation for all that he did.  Should I ever be faced with a break down again, I just pray it will be Glen who comes to my rescue.

A big wave of thanks from Florence Parker.

Thank you CAA for calling MacKenzie’s Towing, and thank you to the MacKenzie dispatcher for sending out your top notch driver. Last but not least, thanks to the GrumpyOldTrucker blog for giving me this opportunity to let others know there are still people in this world who care, and who go beyond the call of duty in the work place.

Our sincere  thanks to everyone… from Marilyn Gould and her mother Florence Parker.

PS. A note to the curious.  The problem was the starter. $309 later and mother and I are set for more adventures together.

Well here it is the middle of May and I’ve been home for six days now.  That’s not quite as good as it sounds since I originally planned to be home only three days.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love being home.  It’s a pleasant change being able to spend some time with Marilyn, even when she puts me to work with chores around the house.

This happens sometime in the trucking industry.  Too many trucks at one end of the country and not enough loads.  Seems like there are one or two such slowdowns every year.  A friend of mine with the same company, who only came as far east as Toronto this week, is running full out and getting lots of miles.

But here it is the 14th of the month, second last day of the two week pay period, and I’ve only got one weeks running in.  That is definitely going to put a dent in the end of the month pay cheque.

No use complaining.  Just have to be thankful I’ve been enjoying more home cooking than usual and that we’ve been able to go out to a restaurant together a couple of times.  We had time to rearrange the livingroom, wash and service my truck, set up the bird feeders so Marilyn can get more bird photos. Man has she ever got more bird photos!

Birds aren't the only ones who benefit from feeders. Click on the picture to view more in the Gallery.

I know there are other driver’s experiencing this same slowdown right now.  I hope they are enjoying the time at home, not stuck out on the road somewhere, staring at the same trucks stop parking lot.  Been there, done that.

*****

Spring has sprung
The grass has riz
I wonder where
The birdies is.

That old childhood rhyme sprang to mind this week as Mother Nature begins to make her powers of renewal evident in most parts of the country.  Of course the biggest evidence I see is the massive bug collection on my grillework and the backs of my mirrors.

There are still a few areas being reluctantly dragged into showing signs of the impending summer. Not the least of these is right at home in Nova Scotia.

There is little question, even there though, of where the birdies is, as many of them are falling within the range of Marilyn’s questing camera.

I’ve decided to include a few of Marilyn’s most striking images in this post as she is learning the patience needed to get the perfect shot. 

All in all a great bunch of shots from Marilyn and I know she took many many more in order to get the ones she saved.  I hear nothing but groans via the instant messenger during every rainy day that keeps her from roaming the yard with the camera.

To view more photos click on this one.

 If anyone else has some great backyard bird shots they’d like to share with our readership please send them along. Include any information you’d care to add and email them to grumpy@grumpyoldtrucker.com.  See ya next time and stay chirpy.