3/25/11 Today's Thoughts Watchful Eye's We do get around, don't we? As truckers I mean. Traveling from town to town as we do. We see a lot of things out there that most people never see. Rest areas and truck stops are full of people from all over the globe. Cars pass us and we keep a watchful eye on them so we can miss them should something happen. You cannot help but notice the people in the car. I always love it when some cute little blond about five years old makes that motion with her arm for me to blow my air horn. The smile on their faces always puts a smile on mine. And of course every now and then you actually get a few minutes to have a conversation with them. The little chit chats about their lives and yours. And then they are gone. Just one of the few pleasures a driver gets in their busy lives some times.
Other times we just notice them. As they drive by or maybe across the parking lot. We see them and wonder. I had an experience the other day that made me wonder. It was closer though, just a few tables down in the restaurant. A grandfather I suppose. About sixty five. He had grey hair and a beard and wore thick rimmed glasses. He had on a brown flannel shirt and jacket and wore jeans that were faded. But the thing I noticed most about him was his traveling companion. A young girl tall enough I think to be about ten years old. She wore white tennis shoes and dark pants. The thing that really stood out to me was thats about all I can tell you about her. You see even though it was quite warm outside, she wore a baseball cap pulled low over her eyes covered by a pink jacket with the hood pulled over the baseball cap and the string pulled tight so that you could barely see her face.
So what do I do? Nothing. I have no clue. Should I call the police? "Hey there's some young girl here and I cannot see her face". Thinking thats going to be cool coming from some perverted truck driver over the phone. And then it dawned on me. What do I do? I have absolutely no clue. I know sitting out in my truck surfing Face Book I knew what to do. Every time I see a post about "Truckers Against Trafficking" it was simple. Hit the share button. But there was no button here. Not even one of those "Easy Buttons" you see on that TV commercial from time to time.
So that was it. The man stood up and the little girl followed. He paid the bill and without a word walked out of that restaurant and out of my life forever. But sometimes with people I meet along the way, I take something away from that meeting. This old man and young girl left me with the fact that maybe I need to practice what I preach just a little bit. I had hit that share button oh so many times but only once did I ever visit the site and only then just to make sure I was sharing a good cause. I'm ashamed.
We as truckers are the eyes and ears of this nation. Nothing gets anywhere without us seeing it. Whether we pass it directly on the highway or perhaps in some one's back yard. Maybe like the other day just sitting in front of me at that restaurant. We as truckers see it. But what are we supposed to do with it. What is it that we are supposed to see and when is it time to make that call. I had no clue the other day. Absolutely none.
So I guess what I'm getting at is it's time to change that. Stop just preaching to others to do the right thing and get myself educated on what to look for. What to do. So instead of just hitting the share button the next time I see this Link: http://blog.truckersagainsttrafficking.com/: I think I'm going to stop in and learn how it is I can be a better trucker. So many times over the years I've seen news story were it was a trucker that solved the crime by just being observative. One I remember where two young girls were saved from being force into a life of prostitution after being kidnapped. Maybe if I do a little educating of myself, the next time I'll know what to do about these things I see. Folks I present to you "Truckers Against Trafficking" Go get yourself educated.
Jeff Head Like Today's Thoughts. Don't forget to share or add me as your friend
