Monday, October 7, 2024
Photo: Mike Murchison
On the Road with Mike MurchisonTrucking

So many ways to measure time passing

How do you measure the day in this world? By the clock? No! Not in this world.

In this world its measured by the chill in the cab that causes you to dig deep and pull yourself out of bed and put the pants and shirt on to help create warmth.

It’s measured by the sound of a cold diesel cranking over and the sight of white exhaust chugging its way up and out the pipes.

  This day is measured by the grown of the power train slugging its way through those first few load lifting gears.

This day is measured by the up shifting and the downshifting. It’s measured by the mile posts, the merge lanes and traffic lights.

This day is measured by hills, the valleys and the tunes coming through the speakers.

This day is measured by the photos of those you left behind that are wedged in the seams of the dashboard.

This day gets measured by the cramps in the neck and legs. The stiffness in the back.

This day gets measured by the greeting of the customer who may or may not care if you showed up. Because it’s just another load to him.

This day gets measured by a million thoughts that come and go like the small towns you pass as you chew up the miles.

 This day gets measured by the rising and the setting of the Sun and the longing for nightfall.

This day gets measured by the shutting down of the machine you’ve been caged in and the deafening silence that follows.

 Yah…! This day gets measured not by the clock, but by every muscle in your body screaming “Enough…!”

How do you measure the day? Its length is summed up as your head hits the pillow, you fall asleep during your prayers, and then there is nothing. You’ve run out of measuring tape…

That’s how you measure the day in this world.

Sleep well!

MLM