A follow-up to the Facebook piece. Oprah – you’ve heard of her right? Of course. She has 6,179,063 friends on Facebook and is adding more every nano-second. That’s fine. Oprah seems like good people. She should have as many friends as she wants – even a friend for every dollar she has. Mark Zuckerberg may not like it, but he’s squid juice compared to Oprah. Whatever Oprah wants, she gets. But, what about a trucker down under – in Australia. He just reached 5000 friends.
Facebook says he has reached his “limit”. Why does he have a limit and Oprah doesn’t? Could Oprah be “better” than the rest of us? I know Oprah would say of course not. Is it not possible that a trucker on the other side of world just might make a difference in someone’s life like “an” Oprah? The answer is yes. Why can’t I be friends with Oprah AND my friend down-under? What is Zuckerberg’s problem? I actually don’t care. The “Aussie” can simply open another “identity” – another “account” – and begin, once again, to accumulate friends. Be he shouldn’t have to. It makes no sense. We’ll see about Google+.
Let me also follow-up on my post office piece. I need to return my transponder to PrePass. I also have two items that I promised my bother down in South Florida that I ‘d send him months ago. Perfect for the post office. I packed it all up and drove to a close-by strip mall with a little post office. I’ve lived here for 24 years – same town, same house and have used that same PO. I pull in the parking lot, put up my handicap tag on the mirror and “walk” up to the front door. “After 36 years, we are closing our doors. Thank-you for being part of our lives, and allowing us to be a part of yours”. No more post office. I was sad. Not so much at the loss of the PO, but rather because the economy is so bad, and getting worse, places that I’m used to and familiar with are disappearing. The main post office is not far away, but I had other things to do – I will have to mail them on Saturday. I could also UPS them, but I won’t.
Moving on, I’ve discussed the image of the truck driver endlessly. Clothes, teeth, dress, shoes, socks and hair – the entire package. How we view ourselves, and how the public and the media view us. As I’ve written in the past, I’ve have a lifetime battle with my weight. Last year, I lost 40+ pounds, then my knees failed and I gained it all back. Months of drugs have only “intensified” this battle. I’m only now, almost four months to the day that I parked my truck, walking without a cane. No stairs, no treadmill, no lifting and not a lot of anything else.
There is also the concurrent “dilemma” of depression. It is both chemical and situational. More drugs. What do we do when we’re “down”? We eat. I’m a long way from the guy that made that “truckercise” YouTube video. But enough about me. I recognize these are hard times and every one of us has our problems. There are better days ahead. Everything happens or a reason. But, let’s turn our attention to the Governor of New Jersey. That’s him in the photograph. Some have mentioned his name as a future candidate for President.
I have listened to his “positions” on the “talking-head” shows everywhere from PBS to Fox. New Jersey was in trouble and his tough stance with unions and his “Tea Party” style cost cutting seems to have worked. But, he looks like a truck driver. When I see him on television, his message is “clouded” by his weight and unhealthy appearance. Just like many truckers. We’ve all seen drivers like this walking through the parking lot, at terminals or at customers. It is sad. The Governor needs lap-band surgery. He needs to lose 100+ pounds. He will NEVER be considered “Presidential” material at his present weight. Quite honestly, he is an embarrassment to himself, his position, his state and, I’m sorry to say, his wife.
I know what the Governor is going through. I also know that he is not too “keen” on Medicare/Medicaid for “seniors”. I’m sure he has health insurance. I’m also sure his “plan” does not cover the lap-band “procedure.” There also might not be any provision for him to see medical help to assist him lose weight or deal with the psychological impact of his “condition”. He might keep this all in mind before he “cuts” any further “benefits” for people. Medicare will pay for lap-band or gastric bypass surgery, most private insurance will not. Most severely obese truckers cannot afford the means by which they can effectively remedy their weight. That includes as well, the associated disorders such as high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, diabetes, etc. The Governor and other politicians, the ATA, the FMSCA, the DOT and others who impact truck drivers and the industry need not forget this.
The Governor checked “himself” into the hospital today complaining of breathing problems. I’ve been there. I wish him well. Maybe when he’s thinner and healthier, he’ll think clearer.
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