What Do You Call It When You Stump The "Pros From Dover"? (long Post)

I completely agree with RD. Being sidelined does not diminish your wealth of knowledge, alternate point of view, or fact-based advice. We need you here more than occasionally, as you feel up to it.

I pray your body heals as soon as it is able, leading to a more comfortable existence for you and your loved ones.

Keep your head and your spirits up Mudge! I agree that being sidelined doesn’t make your advice less credible! Hope you feel better soon

Very informative and somewhat distressing post, but glad to see that it sounds like some improvements are happening.

I frequently hit Jerome and Camp Verde for vacation. Next time I can, I will stop I'm and meet if available.

Curmudgeon, I’m following your progress with great interest. Us old guys need to stick together with our physical difficulties.

As far as your input here, please keep your head in the game. Everything you can share from your experience helps everyone.

I'm back. Long update.

The past year plus has been rough. Inflammatory Arthritis is omnipresent, but manageable. Taking meds weekly for the rest of my life is better than not being able to do anything other than take a dirt nap.

Went through two jobs, first at Fry's meat seafood service counter. That was a phenomenal one for me - getting paid to talk to people 40 hours per week about meat, seafood, other foods to combine with it, grilling, smoking, baking, frying, etc was heaven. Then the IA arrived and shut me down. Went back after a number of months to FT at the meat service counter. Hired on, went through orientation, arrived for my first day and learn that the FT job was gone, but they had PT in the deli for me. 17 hours / week over four days, at $15.40 / hour, with a 30 mile - 45 minute trip each way was just not fiscally responsible. I figured out I was working for around $5 per hour after I factored my drive time and fuel for four trips. Currently working at the Love's Travel Stop in Cordes Junction, I17 MM 263. I sling pizza at the Godfathers inside. It's an OK pizza, ask for what's freshest if you go in.

Some may think that slinging pie is a step back. It is, and it isn't. Here comes the philosophical Curmudgeon for a bit. I am over 60 years old. Clearly the oldest guy on the pizza line. Likely one of the oldest in the Love's. I figure that maybe being where I am at is not a bad thing. I have worked for over 40 years in a number of jobs, with some great people and some real tyrds. Being able to show the 17-22 generation what "Customer Service" should look and sound like may have some nobility and purpose. These folks, no fault of their own, have difficulty communicating with others without using an electronic device, they are challenged to discuss topics other than the latest video or ticktok, and have limited concept of how to convince someone to do something (also called up-selling). I believe that working the line as an 'old man' in a positive mode, showing them some of the skills we all gathered growing up in our former lives, and showing them that even though you're not making $100k per year doesn't diminish the value of what you do, has a real value. Or, I could just be slinging pizza and trying to find nobility in it.

Maybe both hypotheses are valid?

Franklin penned an essay in the late 18th Century called "Information to Those Who Would Remove to America". It's available online through the National Archives. In that essay, as I read it, Franklin says that America was (still IS if you ask me) a land of great opportunity for those willing to dedicate hard work, effort and personal courage to achieving success. There were no handouts at that time, everyone was mostly equally challenged to make themselves. That being American is less about WHO YOU ARE, and more about WHAT YOU DO. And, consequently and currently, what you do, and the manner in which you do it, still drives and determines your potential for achieving success in our Nation. That is, I believe, why so many are willing to go through the steps to legally immigrate here, for their chance at that potential.

Maestro, in his earlier post, commented on short term targets. For me? Getting my HME renewed is one - it lapsed last summer when I was non-functional. Big mistake - relearning that Haz stuff is a challenge, just need to purge some minutiae and find a spot in the memory banks for something useful. I will do that. Finding an outfit locally that will hire a three day a week slip seat driver. OTR? Pneumatics? LTL? 6 Axle agg haulers? Construction is still robust in this area, and there are a number of opportunities to explore in that venue. It's not OTR , and boy do i MISS the feel of the wheel. But, physical limitations from the neck stenosis and cumulative vibration irritation dictates a three day, max, work week of driving. The HME needs to be first step, as that broadens my field of options. Then it's just a matter of finding the outfit that sings out "We Are Family".

Bottom line? I AM BLESSED. I'm over 60, still breathing without a machine to push it. My wife of 33 years this year still keeps me around (another reason for working, she still needs her "No Tim Time" after my 28 years in coppery and seven-plus in a truck). Our son is productive, earning a good wage working with his hands and his music skills, and happily married to a wonderful lady. He still speaks with me (willingly, to my ongoing amazement) once a week or so just to keep up with our world. And we're building our dream home, finally, after holding the lot for 20 years. The image below is our view to the north, and I've named the place "Mesa Vista at Trail's End". If you think about it, and the journey we are all on, you'll get it.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far. Stay safe, Drivers. We depend on what you do. Every Day. Moving the products that make our economy keep running is noble work, indeed.