Mark Williams Fans Post Here!!

Please check the comments section in the Protest Mark's Firing post, which is right before this one. We need your help in spreading the word and voicing your outrage to the powers-that-be. Thank you and please don't give up-- together, we CAN make a difference!!
Please feel welcome to post freely here in the comments section; unlike Mark's forum, your thoughts and opinions will not be censored here.
I'd also like to quickly say that the protest on June 17th went well! Our presence was certainly felt-- although our group was smaller than usual, we surely had an uncomfortable effect on those who were on the receiving end of our displeasure.
We love you, Mark. We hope to hear your voice over the airwaves again soon.

Protest Mark William's Firing!

Join us on June 17, at 1:00pm in Roseville at the Wine Festival on Vernon Street. There will be several KFBK sponsors at this event and we are peacefully gathering to let them know how we feel about this station's new liberal slant.
The following announcement was emailed by Deborah Johns to Leo to share with all of Mark's supporters:
"We are meeting at Atlantic and Vernon Streets, across from the APX Motor Sports shop, in the dirt lot by the Southern Pacific train. If possible please make a sign that says BOYCOTT KFBK--THEY DON'T SUPPORT OUR TROOPS on one side, and WE WANT MARK WILLIAMS--HE DOES SUPPORT OUR TROOPS on the other side.
Deborah Johns will be making up some flyers to pass out to people as well.
Additionally, it is expected that Mark and Holly Williams will attend this protest to give their thanks for all of our support.
Please let everyone you know about this event! WE NEED LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE."
Please email bounce847@surewest.net for more info, and to confirm your appearance at this special gathering.
*We have posted on this page because any mention of this event on Mark's forum has been deleted; apparently the site is being monitored by more than Mark's listeners and supporters.*
Just so you know, you're calls and emails to KFBK and their sponsors ARE making a difference:
* Tom Sullivan is now commenting that KFBK is having advertiser issues
* FOUR major sponsors have pulled their ads
* Ms. Teel of Raleigh's will be hand-delivered a letter from Marine Moms of Northern California within three days
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 17TH! Please come back here over the next week to get updates and more info as it becomes available.

Life Goes On

One of the reasons we felt so compelled to come home (and chose not to post it here until now) was the sudden and serious illness of Jeff's best friend Mike. He was diagnosed with cancer in July. It came as a complete shock to Jeff, and being so far away from home didn't help matters.
For awhile the prognosis seemed positive. Mike had surgery and the doctors removed the cancer (or so they thought). Light rounds of chemo were ordered to eliminate any remaining traces of the cancer, and Mike was adjusting to all of it.
But, as it turns out, things were not so good after all. Jeff and I came home and moved into our house, and he immediately took the trip down south to see his buddy Mikey. They spent a nice weekend together, saying all the things that needed to be said, and of course enjoying one of their favorite pasttimes-- the NFL.
Not too long ago Mike's wife called to say he was not doing well. After a few rounds of chemo he had decided it wasn't for him, and as it turns out the cancer had made its way into his lymph nodes so the chemo would only be prolonging his misery. God bless him. At the young age of 41, he made the decision to not suffer any more.
Mikey passed away two days before Thanksgiving.
I shudder to think how Jeff would feel if we had still been on the road. Coming home was the right thing to do-- the only thing to do.
I only had the pleasure of meeting Mike once, but it was a day I'll always remember. He was having his 40th birthday party with an 80's theme and requested that everyone come dressed as their favorite 80's icon. We had fun dressing up and this is the picture you're looking at of me and Jeff, one of my favorites.
This post is written in honor of Mikey, who lived his life to the fullest, and reminded us all to do the same. You never know how long you'll be here, and my own personal belief is to spread as much joy and laughter as you can, so you'll be remembered with the same joy and laughter when you're gone.
God bless you Mikey, and God speed!
PHOTO: Mike and his wife Tiffany are front and center (with their little girl) in the group photo.

Some Form of Normalcy

It's been a long time since I posted here; I hadn't realized how much I've neglected my little piece of cyber space. Although some photos have been posted, I haven't quite finished with all of that, but life at home has been busy and hectic at times-- too many things to do and the days seem to just whiz on by.
Since getting home we have moved to a larger living space. The move itself was exhausting-- I'd been in my apartment for 11 years and had accumulated alot of "stuff", and packing involved going through boxes I hadn't looked at in ages. It was quite a trip down memory lane for me, but it was also an emotional test for my deeply ingrained pack-rat mentality to throw unnecessary items away.
I put all of our work-related things into a large box-- everything we had with us on the truck. It's called, appropriately, the "FedEx Box" and we will keep it safely tucked away until the day comes that we're ready to roll again.
I know it will be awhile before that day comes. Jeff is enjoying spending quality time with his kids again, and I've begun bonding with my little niece. Amazing that she will celebrate her first birthday in early December. When I left for the road, she was just learning how to giggle. Now, she laughs. Alot. And if she's not laughing, she's at least grinning-- a huge, open mouthed grin that provides her an opportunity to show off four baby teeth. I don't think I've ever seen a happier baby.
It is good to be home.
And at the same time, it's strange to be home...
I have all my on-the-road photos put on the computer as a slide-show. I catch myself looking at them sometimes, and while I know where they were all taken, it almost seems surreal to me now that I was even there. Were Jeff and I really driving across the country? It seems like a lifetime ago. I was watching TV the other night, and it was some documentary that had taken place in Waterbury CT. The camera panned an aerial view over the city and I totally recognized it, and then at the same time wondered if I really HAD been there?
That happens alot. Watching TV and they mention some city far away, and I tell my son, "I've been there!"
I was listening to Armstrong and Getty this morning-- a great radio talk show here in Sacramento. The subject was about how people born into poverty are so locked in to it they never realize they can live their lives differently. They just accept that poverty will always be their way of life. And Armstrong was talking about how, in his own younger life, he never realized he could travel. He knew other people did it, but he never entertained the idea that HE could. It's an abstract psychological thought process really-- I could relate to what he was trying to say. When I was younger, I thought about becoming a flight attendant. But because I couldn't SEE myself on a jet, flying to exotic points around the world, I never pursued it. Instead, I wandered through life, working at meaningless office jobs and accepting that this was my place.
I remember being 20 and riding in a tractor-trailer for the first time with my brother-in-law Jim. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. I remember thinking what a cool job this would be, but I also remember thinking that there is no way I could ever drive one of those things. How crazy for me to even entertain such an idea!
I was bitten by the driving bug at age 20. Still it took me another 20 years to get the courage and confidence to actually get out there and do it.
And I suppose that's part of the reason that the memory of driving around the country is so surreal to me. There is a part of me that still can't believe I was actually out there. Old habits die hard, as they say!
It was a dream of mine to see America in all it's wonder. I've seen more of the country than most everyone I know. Perhaps I should just be happy I did it, and leave it at that?
But I miss the road... and know that someday I'll be back.

Katrina

We spoke with our truck's owners (Jerry & Shirley) this morning. They took over the truck for us while we take some much needed time off, and the first run offer they got was down to Louisiana to help with the Katrina rescue efforts.
The company we work for, FedEx, has a contract with FEMA. Jeff and I were well aware that we could be called for a FEMA run any time during hurricane season; in fact we were surprised that we were never sent during Hurricane Dennis' aftermath since we were already in the Miami area.
FEMA runs are certainly a mixed bag of emotions. The compassionate part of me can't imagine NOT being there to help in any way; it's also the compassionate part of me that is relieved we got off the truck when we did. I know this comment may sound heartless to many, but I can't imagine seeing so much destruction and suffering and not being able to do anything directly about it. It would have killed me inside. Talking to Jerry this morning-- and hearing his experiences so far-- made me realize that we got off the truck in the nick of time.
He spoke of countless bodies all around. He spoke of people rushing up to the truck and begging for food or water. People were actually shoving babies against the truck window screaming for help. Jerry and Shirley stayed for a week, hauling in food and medical supplies, and finally left the area for the weekend to rest, get some food and take a shower. They had to deadhead all the way to Houston to accomplish this.
I heard that CNN had reported that FedEx was running medical supplies for FEMA, and as a result of that report, several FedEx trucks had been hijacked. I mentioned this to Jerry and he hadn't heard anything specifically to that effect, but he was certainly not surprised given the critical situation there. I pray for their safety, I pray for the poor people who have lost so much, and I pray for the landscape that I had, just a few weeks ago, driven through and marvelled over.
God bless and please help those people.

Home Sweet Home

We are home at last. It was the longest five days we've ever had, due mostly in part that we were traveling without our cozy sleeper in the truck. At work Jeff and I always alternated driving every five hours, but this was quite different. We'd be completely exhausted after each day, and get up the next for another ten or so hours of driving.
One good thing was that we were traveling back into Pacific Time; each day we gained another hour so time was on our side. I hate to think what it would have been like if we'd have been going the opposite direction!
I have much to say about the trip home, and the situation on the East Coast that has developed over the last few days with Hurricane Katrina. I will save that for a later blog; for now, please keep those poor people in your prayers.
Back soon!
PS: The photo above was taken at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah!

The First Thousand...

We are on our way home.
We woke up yesterday to a beautiful day, but it was bittersweet for both of us as we drove the truck for the last time. I was very emotional; after all, this truck has been our home for several months and I've felt very cozy in it. We've had alot of fun and laughs and, well, I'm never good at goodbyes anyhow.
We met our owners in Oneonta, and they happily took over the truck. Turns out they are going to run it for awhile; I'm not surprised because Jerry is always saying how he's too bored with retirement lol! He was chomping at the bit to get behind that wheel yesterday!
We are in Ohio, getting ready to get back in the car after a good night's sleep. We only drove 500 miles yesterday due to the late start, and we have every intention of making up for it today! A nice rest makes all the difference.
Being in Ohio reminded me of the last time we were there. We were laid over there for a weekend and found a place in a little town to do laundry. We struck up a nice conversation with the proprietor of the laundromat, a very nice man by the name of Al Toomer. We spent at least a couple hours talking to him-- Jeff more so than I-- and Jeff was thrilled to hear that Mr. Toomer's nephew is Amani Toomer, a runningback for the New York Giants. Jeff, being a huge football fan, was very impressed with that. Mr. Toomer gave us his busines card, and told us to call him next time we were in Ohio. He wanted to have us over to his home and barbeque with the family. He also gave us his brother's business card!-- who owns some businesses in Las Vegas. Evidently we have orders to contact him if we are ever in town as well, so he can give us a grand tour.
It's always great to meet nice people out on the road. And if we hadn't gotten to Ohio so late last night, we probably would have given Al a call.
But we are anxious to get home as well. I must say, it's harder to drive a car across the country, compared to a truck. There's no sleeper to stretch out in!
Getting in a car for the first time after being in a truck for any length of time can be quite a shock at first-- more so in this rental car we're driving; it's a Ford Focus, very tiny and very low to the ground. It took us both some time to adjust to the change. Driving next to trucks is especially frightening!-- we could fit this little car right under the trailer. The tires are taller than this car!
I experienced another "first" yesterday. We had stopped at a gas station in Pennsylvania, and there by one of the fuel islands was a young Amish couple. He was a handsome man, in a straw hat and suspenders, filling up a gas container; she was standing on the fuel island, waiting for us to pass so she could cross to the store. Like the young girl in Lousiana (from an earlier post) I was awestruck by how simple and beautiful she was. She had on a fancy black dress and bonnet, pale skin with strawberry blond hair and freckles. Just a wisp of a girl really-- the dress almost swallowed her tiny little frame! She smiled shyly at us as she passed in front of our car, and I wanted to chase after her to ask if I could take her picture. But I wasn't sure if that would be well-received... so I admired her and her husband from a distance.
Of course this opened a new topic of conversation for me and Jeff. Not only did I admire the young Amish couple, but I deeply admire and respect their way of life as well. They are oblivious to the American lifestyle; away from crime, politics and the hustle and bustle-- and the overall stress-- of daily life away from their farmland. Pennsylvania is a beautiful state-- I know I've said it before but I don't mind repeating it.
Illinios is not so beautiful... and that's where we find ourselves at this writing. Not much scenery, but the sun is going down and at least we are being treated to a spectacular sunset. Two thousand miles to go...