Tuesday was a day of simple joy, the kind that engaged all the senses. A slight breeze carried light-hearted energy and not the offensive odors as has been the norm for this farming area lately! (If you have experienced it you would know its absence was something to be thankful for!) Freshly washed trucks gleamed in the sunshine that warmed the skin perfectly. A melody of awe, laughter, and a running big rig engine were the background music. And the heart, the heart was filled with friendship, respect, acceptance, humor and the richness of God’s blessings!
Andy has shared his semi passion with Foot Prints in Time day program attendees for years and now and all do the arm-pump when out for their walks! The women, one well into her 70’s, as well as the men and staff now enjoy listening and watching for the rigs in hopes of a honk. I’m not sure how many adults with disabilities have a passion for semis, but I’m sure the average is higher in this group! I thought they’d like to see one up close so I made arrangements with Justin to bring his logging truck to Andy’s day program for show and tell. Today Justin asked another driver, John, to bring his semi to show as well.
Justin’s easy accepting personality gave me confidence for inviting him to visit Andy’s group. I did not know much about John, but his genuine smiles at the questions and answers, and relaxed stance was all I needed to know about his comfort level today. Staff commented on how quickly these two truckers were completely absorbed into the group; I too had noticed. My reflection from this day reveled I consciously watch interactions with an eye that had seen apprehension of persons with disabilities by society in days gone by. Thankfully this history does not show up in the actions of Andy’s trucking tribe.
The group waited a little impatiently in anticipation of seeing the semis up close. The excitement increased with the sounds then sight of the approaching rigs using jake brakes while slowing to turn into the parking lot. Two logging trucks from Lutke Forest Products drove in and parked just a few feet away, one could almost feel the whooosssh of the released air brakes, a sound Andy can make near to perfection. (Ha! as I’m writing this I realize I need a cheat sheet of how to write a variety of truck sounds, can someone make one for me?)
After greetings, two of the ladies were quick to introduce themselves to the guys and ask their names. They stayed close to those drivers the entire time. One of the ladies is part of a singing group and enjoys her time with a microphone, which she used to ask questions with the entire time.
Andy is used to getting up close to these giants, surprisingly it did not take long for the rest of them to get into inspecting and asking questions such as how to honk the horns, how far they drive to work, what they haul, how they load the logs etc. One of the ladies noticed the height of the cab and asked Justin, “how do you get up in these things?” “We have to climb up” was the reply. She came back with “So, you have to be part monkey” “Ya, I guess we do!” John then gave a demonstration on how to be part monkey and climbed up the ladder to the seat that is part of the loader. Everyone watched intently as John maneuvered the loader in a circle above his truck, opening and closing the bucket. It was the applause after the demonstration that made me laugh! I bet few truck drivers can say their work included applause! LOL.
All thru the presentation there were passing semis honking at the ongoing arm pumps. After one horn blast one of the gray-haired ladies let out a whoop of verbal appreciation. I directed Justin’s attention to her and shared she is legally blind and can’t see the truck that just honked, but she sure enjoyed hearing it. His expression showed a new level of understanding of the gift a horn honk his profession provides.
Knowing the guys had to get back on the road we posed for a group picture and gave appreciation gift bags to them. The trucks backed up and treated us to a grand finale of dueling horn blasts; the rigs pulled out and went their separate ways. The unplanned effect of watching them go in opposite directions gave many of us goose bumps. For some reason, the experience of the chorus of horns then watching the rigs go their separate way was very touching. It would have made a great dramatic movie scene; the perfect ending to a perfect visit. On this day two truck drivers gave a bit of time to give simple joy and I believe that joy bounced right back to them by their continuous smiles the entire visit. We hope they will visit us again!
Perhaps it is because I still have one eye on the history of the Andy’s of our world that I am always a bit overwhelmed at the grace given by our tribe of truckers. They are a big part of our lives, but none the less after these experiences my heart is always filled with joy, awe, thankfulness, and appreciation.
I love when we can share the joy these guys and their rigs give to Andy!
Big Rigs Making a Difference!
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