The weekend ...

Yes, it is the "weekend" ... but in the life of a trucker - there is not much of a traditional "weekend" to be had. Sigh. And sadly, most people never even think about that.
A trucker sleeps when he/she can.
Eats when hungry, and can either find somewhere that will allow truck parking, or find a place to pull over and grab something out of the ice chest.
(And yes, we will occasionally take longer than it takes to eat in a restaurant. We will sit there after the meal is eaten, sometimes even sitting there after we have paid. No, we don't need to hear the rude comments about "people sitting there for no good reason". If the place is very busy, we won't take the time ... usually. But you know? Sometimes we just need a few minutes of not feeling the seat under our butts moving!)
Goes to the bathroom at the nearest truck stop or rest area. (And most people just see these bathrooms as "public restrooms" ... as a trucker and wife - we see them as OUR bathroom! So, when we are in there brushing our teeth, or taking longer in a stall than what you think we should - get over it! We don't need to hear  your words of hatefulness over the "rudeness" of people who take too long! We have been without a bathroom for miles upon miles while bringing you the very things you rely on for your life! Give us a break!!!)

We miss the "LIFE" ...
Going to church on Sunday mornings ... a nice family/friend lunch ... a Sunday afternoon nap ... maybe church again Sunday night.
Work Monday thru Friday ... home at night ... supper around the table, a little TV, a hot shower or bath, and crawl into our own bed with our own pillows and covers.
Saturday - a day to either do some "honey-do's" or just kickback ... sit in the shade with a cold glass of iced tea, fish a little, take a long walk in the country, cook out on the grill ...
sigh ... yes, we remember the "LIFE" ...
And now? We are the ones out here on the road helping to insure that everyone has what they need or want for their "LIFE".
But with little to no thanks or appreciation. Mostly just griping and complaining about how much space the trucks take up on the highways ... how heavy they are on the parking lots ... how they block driveways and intersections ... how they won't just stop for a car to pull in front and slam on the brakes for no good reason.
If you wear it, drink it, eat it, use it - at some point, it came on a truck!!! There are few things that never see a truck ... honestly? I can't think of ONE thing that never sees a truck!!!
The truckers aren't asking for major pats on the back ... nor or they asking to "own the roads" ...
BUT they do ask for an occasional - "Thank you for your service in keeping America going" ... and ask for a bit more tolerance on the roads!

Rick and I have seen some "amazing" things that people have done on the roads during these months of him driving and me riding along.
Small cars trying to pass him on an overpass turn, on the shoulder ... and then getting angry when there wasn't room to stay on the shoulder, she had to take a bit of the ditch. What good sense says that her little car is going to stop an 18 wheeler when she pulls in front of him and slams on the brake??? Rick was pushing 80,000 pounds! OMW!!!
And the guy with a pick up full of kids - Rick in his lane, the pick up in his own lane ... all of a sudden, the pick up whips over in front of Rick - who is doing highway speed - and slams his brakes on! We couldn't even see the back of the pickup! Just knew that Rick's truck was going to run over the top of those kids! But thank God for His protection!
Then, the Sion full of teenagers that drove between Rick and another tanker wanting the 2 tanker trucks to just move out of the way and let her pass. Mind you - Rick was in his lane, the other truck was in his lane ... there was NO LANE IN THE MIDDLE!!! And there was no way for either truck to move over! What were they thinking? Oh, wait - they WEREN'T!!!

Guess that is my rant for the day ... 
Just remember the next time a trucker irritates you, that you are eating and drinking and driving/riding and wearing and using ALL that a trucker has brought to you! 

Without trucks - America doesn't roll!!! 

(Oh, and we well know that there are truckers that actually deserve every comment and "finger" ... but NOT ALL do!)