On the Road Again 2012 #4

Susan was loud, opinionated, feisty and argumentative. She may have been academically uneducated but I suspect she was a superb organizer and a very hard worker. I have no doubt that she kept her promises to both her employers and her drivers. I would also guess that she also kept her word to those with whom she was fighting with. I would think that Susan would be capable of holding a grudge for some time. She would be a formidable enemy.

She was a great driver for me. She loved to talk about her business and its complexities. She saw it as an important job and worked hard to ensure that what she and her teams were escorting got there safely. Considering that one of her contracts was to pilot the trucks carrying the blades for wind turbines that are worth four million dollars, and doing so down roads that are filled with twists and turns and narrow bridges, it is an important job. I am glad that there are those who take it seriously.

Susan projected this persona of a "tough old broad" who took no crap from anyone. I think this was partially true but she was also a kind, caring soul who not only offered me a great ride, but who also cried when she saw a dead animal on the road or someone mistreating a dog. She was open and accepting of most people (although she did have a significant chip on her shoulder about Albertans and she like most Canadians struggled with finding a balance about appreciating and wanting new immigrants and trying to maintain a sense of Canadian identity) and in spite of working in a lonely profession she was very social.

Her relationship with her live house mate was complicated. They did not share a bed but it appeared that they shared almost everything else. When times were tough they supported each other -both emotionally and financially - they talked on the phone at least once a day no matter where they were (he too was a truck driver and they didn't seen each other for months at a time) and they appeared to share some common values and dreams. For example Linda was planning to go to California to see some motorbike races but cancelled her plans as she knew he was going to be home for a week.

Susan was going towards Jasper so she she was planning to let me off on the west side of Edmonton. I jokingly said as we were passing through the Edmonton "damn I missed seeing the big Mall!!" She offered to go back and let me off.  I however, was quite content to get out of the truck at what looked like a great spot.We shook hands and she was off and I once again was on my own.

As I stood there I realize how good my trip had been so far. Two rides and I had gone somewhere around 1,000 kilometer. It was only 11:30 on Friday. Not too shoddy at all!!

p.s. the brilliance of the Canola flowers through Manitoba and Saskatchewan was extraordinarily. I wish I had taken pictures of them. Fields and fields - perhaps hundreds of acres of these incredible yellow flowers stretching as far as the eye could see. And then every once in awhile there would be a flax field with its soft blue flowers just starting to show. Who says the Prairies are boring?