Stories From The Road: Death of a Dream

[Droopy]

Don't worry. You're just losing your mind.

I found out one day at my new job that 3 men had been crushed to death while undecking trucks in the two months that I had been working there. I didn't think a whole lot about it in regards to myself at the time. I just felt sorry for their families and thought that it must have been a horrible way to go.

A few days later I realized just how quickly someone can get hurt on that job when I witnessed a couple of guys in a hurry to undeck trucks almost get killed right in front of me. They had been working there for a while. They knew what they were doing, but they just got in too big of a hurry to beat a deadline and almost had a disaster. They simply forgot to chock the wheels on a truck.

That got me thinking: Is this job really worth the risk? I got up the next day and turned on the tv to catch the current events. That was the day that the Brits had uncovered the plot to blow up 10 airplanes heading to the States. Airports in the U.S. were crowded with people who had either had their flights canceled or had missed their planes due to the long wait at security. For that job I had to travel a lot by airplane. It was the last straw.

Goodbye $6000 a month pension. Goodbye sleeping in a hotel room every night. Goodbye company paid health insurance. Goodbye 50 cents a mile. All that, but it still wasn't worth it.

I was in Kansas City when I heard the news about the terrorist plot. I called several companies and found one that was just up the road in Iowa that sounded good. I did an application over the phone and they checked me out and told me I was hired.

That's the reason I've been gone for so long.

My whole life is dying right before my eyes. I have to sell my house now. The whole American Dream just vanishing.

Maybe this is the start of a new dream. But I'm much more cynical now.

[johnnie]

1. First off, it's good to see you Droopy...as always

Secondly, are you saying you left that job you just got? If so, it is fine. I wouldn't worry too much. If you aren't happy with what you are doing in life than it's not worth the hassle. I'm sorry you have to sell your house.

Your life isn't dying, it is just opening up to a new chapter. Life is full of twists and turns and you have to look at it as a journey and not a destination. Yeah, that is a cliche', but like most cliche's, it is true.

Take care my friend and I hope to see you on here soon.

[Droopy]

2. Thanks johnnie

Yeah I worked there for a couple of months. It was just so disappointing, but I figured it just wasn't worh it. I was working scared there at the end.

I'm trying to look at it as a new start, but I really liked this house.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Droopy!

How very good to see you! I have really missed you, and your stories...

This one is sure as heck scary......

And I think you did right in following your gut instincts....

I am sorry about your home, though....that has to be tough......

Welcome back! :hug:

[Droopy]

5. Thanks, Peggy

It's good to see you, too. I guess things will get better, but right now I have to kind of step back, keep my head down, and just work my ass off. I feel comfortable hauling them dry vans around. I would have never felt right hauling trucks.

[skygazer]

4. Geez, Droopy, I'm sorry to hear this

But it sounds like you did the right thing. I know it's hard not to be discouraged but we've just got to put one foot in front of the other and keep on plugging. What else can we do? And it may very well turn out that there are zillions of good things just around the corner because of all this.

I guess that's kinda what faith is. :hi:

[Droopy]

6. I think you are right

and that things will get better. It's probably just going to be a long time.

[Deja Q]

7. This will sound odd but I've sometimes wished I died in a terrorist attack

I have had greater fears out of losing my livelihood than being attacked by some dumbass barbarian bending over backwards for his bizarre excuse of a religion, or at the very least he misperceiving his religion but that's his problem and I'm glad they were caught.

To the point I attempted suicide over a month ago. Dunno what stopped me, but I'm still here. :hi:

Also, management has to grow the fuck up about deadlines. If people are getting injured or, sheesh, killed because of a fuckin' clock, our "culture of life" should be demanding things go a little more slowly or at least the deadline extended so nobody loses their LIFE over something that's not life-threatening in the end!

It's also odd how everybody still wants to use planes as a medium for a terrorist attack. Convenient too, what with the last major one anybody tends to remember also using planes... but the fear would get me to quit too.

They say life isn't about money, but our society seems to be.

Maybe one day things will work out for the best.

But I'm glad you're still around.

[Droopy]

9. I'm glad you're still here, too, man

It's true that our society is all about money, but at the same time it's true that there is a lot more to life than the mean green. I'll get by ok. I have a loving family that supports me. I'm still young, too (as are you) so I've got a little time to make adjustments.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

14. Hypnotoad...

All joking aside, but have you ever thought about seeing a psychologist? Not a pyschatrist, as they often seem to push meds too much without focusing on the issue at hand, but a psychologist. You often seem to be reaching out for help, but you should seek a professional, especially if you attempted suicide.

[Floogeldy]

8. It's good to see that you are taking good care of yourself, bro.

[Droopy]

10. Thank you

I hope everything is going ok in the Floogeldy household.

[auntAgonist]

11. I'm glad to see you again Droopy!

I'll respond more in depth on my forum. I'm so sorry this hasn't worked out for you! I'll be more inquisitive later :)

I'm sorry you weren't able to have dinner with us last weekend, we had a great time and you were sorely missed.

:hug:

aA
kesha

[Droopy]

12. It's good to see you, too, aA

I'll be checking the other forum. I would have had a good time with you all, but I had to do what I had to do.

[auntAgonist]

13. there will be other opportunities my friend

I'm just glad you're ok.

:hug:

aA

[Joe Fields]

15. In all seriousness, it sounds as though you weren't really into it,

in the first place.

[Droopy]

16. Well I didn't really like undecking to begin with

But it's something that I could have dealt with if it weren't so dangerous. There are a lot of things every day that happen on a trucking job that I don't like. But when you start talking about getting crushed by trucks and blown up in an airplane, those are two things that I can control.