This is my first ever submission of this type, so please be kind... It is purely fiction -- well almost.
The life of a big rig, over-the-road truck driver is nothing like people have come to believe after all the movies and television series from a few years back. It consists of long hours behind the wheel fighting traffic, shippers, receivers and worst of all, the DOT (Department of Transportation). In spite of all that, it can be fun, exciting, and even rewarding. I want to tell you a little about the fun and exciting part...
First, let me tell you just a little about myself. I'm divorced (twice) and have two great adult kids and three grandkids that I spoil rotten every chance I get. Since I have no one waiting for me, I can spend as much time running "down the road" as I want and don't have to worry about going home. The fact is, I really don't have a home like most people would imagine.
My "home" is my rig. I have a sleeper with all the bells and whistles. There is a television, a small microwave, a coffee maker and a very comfortable bunk with expensive sheets and a down comforter. Most truck stops I go to have Wi-Fi connections now, so I can access the internet any time I stop for a break. When I'm not "home" (that is not on the road), I spend time on my boat in a small marina just east of Pensacola, Florida.
But enough of that stuff... this experience I'm about to share with you is one that happened a few years after my divorce. I'm not some over-sexed stud out looking for anything in a skirt, so when something like this happens to me, it always comes as a pleasant surprise.
I had picked up a load of medical equipment out of San Diego headed for Cleveland. It looked to be a great run with lots of miles and some great scenery to enjoy along the way. Plus, I had been forced to push myself pretty hard to make my earlier delivery in S.D., so I was pleased when my dispatcher said there was no rush on this load.
As I was getting ready to head down the road, I heard a woman on the CB asking for directions. Since I was at the location she was looking for, it was an easy task for me to help her out, thinking once she was on the right track, I would take off.
After getting her headed in the right direction, she thanked me and offered to buy me a cup of coffee. Well, I need to get some miles under me for the day, so I said I was on my way to Cleveland and needed to get moving.
"Wow, that's where I'm going too!" she exclaimed. "What route are you taking?"
Well, one thing led to another, and I agreed to look for her at the first truck stop I planned to use that night. What really caught my interest was her next comment... "Oh" she said, "by the way, I'm not one of those typical trucker women you are picturing in your mind right now." She was right on the money... I had in my mind's eye the stereotypical female truck driver (which is not really accurate, by the way).
Now I couldn't wait to get to the truck stop. We agreed on the time, she described her rig and said she would be right behind me as soon as she got her load.
At the designated truck stop, I parked where I could watch the trucks rolling in for the night. She raised me on the CB when she got within range, and I don't know why, but I was starting to really look forward to some company for a little coffee, conversation, and whatever else might come up. Oh, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't especially interested in the latter, especially when she backed in next to my rig and climbed down from the cab of her truck. What I expected to see and what was reality were totally different. I don't know that I would call her "drop-dead-gorgeous" but she was attractive, looked like she took care of herself and had a smile that could charm the meanest DOT cop.
After a little getting to know each other chit-chat, she dropped the bomb-shell that made my heart almost stop... "Listen, we both have a schedule to keep, and if we play our cards right, we could convoy all the way to Cleveland. But first I want to see what the next few hours will bring. Your truck or mine?"
Holy shit! I've just been hit on by a truck driver!