Rocky Mountain Rain....

Chuck should be almost to Denver by now....Last Thursday (I hope I'm right) he left from New York City for a 1400 mile trek to Denver, CO. Every day we've talked for HOURS...he stopped in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri (I might have missed one or 2). He's only driving about 8 or 9 hours a day, even though he can drive 10, because the hours stop when you get to a certain point, so in order to stay driving every day, and not have to sit for 24 hours somewhere, he has to drive less per day. So he leaves about 5 in the morning or earlier,and stops around 1 or 2. At least when there's a long trip like this there can't be any trouble....until he has to drop off! I'm hoping they route him up this way, even for a day. We have 11 more days until he's due home for some length of time (3 days) and he was only home 3 days in the month of November! This is very, very hard on all of us. He's making so many sacrifices. Thank GOD he has a job, but sometimes he goes 2 or 3 days with no shower, if they don't route him near a truck stop that has them. He has to sleep in the cab of his truck - eat there, sleep there, be there 24 hours a day. This is NOT an easy job! So I hate to burden him with news from home that may be less than desirable. Now that the weather is changing I add another worry for his safety...! He had some safety training last week in Kansas and they told him that Swift is the single largest carriers in North America - they have 22,000 trucks on the road - even more than FEDEX ground (the 2nd largest). Last year they logged more than 7 billion miles and had 42 deaths. FEDEX logged only around 2 billion miles and had 9 deaths. He said every day there is news of accidents with trucks. 2 weeks ago Swift made the national news because a driver was in an accident, and a mile later a driver from another carrier was in the exact same type of accident...they were both falling asleep at the wheel! As strict as these companies are about the hours you are ALLOWED to drive it is still very difficult at times to get good sleep....like when you have a refrigerator truck parked next to you at the truck stop all night (right Chuck? :)). Every day we just have to trust that Chuck is smart and safe and will come home soon! Not a day goes by, Chuck... Love you~

Robin