A bunch of useless crap
Published on February 1, 2006 By MasonM In Blogging
The flight up to Wisconsin was pretty uneventful. My boss picked me up from the airport (naturally, I found him in the bar), and drove to me the yard. When I was walking around the yard I saw my wrecked car for the first time since the accident. It turned my stomach to see how badly smashed up it was and I was amazed that I managed to survive at all. Nothing they had told me in describing it came close to
just how badly mangled it was.

The boss had it towed there to save on the storage fees. I went through it as best I could and found the Stetson I had been wearing at the time of the wreck. It was pretty badly mangled and had quite a bit of dried blood on it. It went in the dumpster. I also found my military duffle, still filled with the laundry I was planning to do the day following the wreck.

I dared open the bag to check the condition of the contents expecting something pretty foul; mold, mildew, etc... The clothing inside was actually in excellent condition, just needing laundering.

I also found my old pool cue, still in it's case and in pristine condition.

After retrieving my belongings I called a salvage yard and had them come out and buy the wreck from me and tow it away. I got a whole 50 bucks for it. LOL I know that my boss had shelled out more than $600 to pay the tow bill and the storage fees that had accumulated before he had it brought to the yard so I gave him the $50 they gave me for the wreck with the promise of repaying the balance he had paid out. He accepted the $50 and said he'd consider us even. Needless to say I was a bit shocked at that, but knowing how he is, not completely surprised by it either.

So now I have all of my old "trucking clothes" back, freshly laundered and ready to wear. The things that had been in my rig at the time they had carefully packed up and stored in the warehouse for me. They included many personal items, my other two western hats (a black Rodeo King, and a white straw Stetson), and my elkhide western boots which I was very happy to have back again as I had shelled out a small fortune for them a few years back.

I'm heading out again tomorrow morning, and am looking forward to spending a week or two on the road, maybe seeing a few old trucking aquaintances and making a few bucks as a paid tourist once again.


Comments
on Feb 01, 2006
stay safe mason, drop in time to time.

If yer ever get out cali way let me know.

MM
on Feb 01, 2006

It's quite an experience to go see the vehicle you mangled afterwards, isn't it Mason?  It was very theraputic for me.  I sat in the driver's seat and looked at the blood and smashed glass and I cried like a baby.  Dave was with me; he was home on leave.  He walked around the truck mumbling "I didn't know it was this bad; nobody told me it was this bad" aqnd then he stood next to me and held me as best he could as I cried and got all the fear and anger and anguish I'd been holding since it happened out.

I'm glad that you got your stuff back, and I'm glad you saw your truck.  I think that it's a major step for you, and that it's going to do you good.

If you are ever on I-64 near St Louis (or any other highway near here, for that matter) please, please give me a call.  I'd LOVE to meet you for some java and a nice long chat.  I have your email addy, I'll send you my cell number.

on Feb 01, 2006
Oh Mason, what an experience....
Dharma summoned it up really well too!

Am glad you "finished that up" yet am sorry you had to even do that!

glad you have your prized boots back and some clothes and hats.

My experience of seeing the car I had an accident with wasn't so awful. I WAS surprised at how the
engine was pushed forward towards the dash, however had to giggle as the pie crusts were still on the floor,
although a tad mushy!
on Feb 01, 2006
P.S. you're welcome here as well, we always have enough chow for another and tea, coffee, or cocoa.
So if you're ever near North Branch on 35 W, you can give me a jingle! Dharma has my phone number so you can
have her give it to ya.
on Feb 01, 2006

You let your boss know, he needs anything (other than a driver), let me know.  He is my kind of guy!  Write when you can.  We will keep a light on.

And if you are ever on I-95 or 64, look me up!  Of course you know I am far east of Dharma.

on Feb 01, 2006
Will do MM. Thanks.

#2 by dharmagrl
Wednesday, February 01, 2006



[dharmagrl]

It's quite an experience to go see the vehicle you mangled afterwards, isn't it Mason?


Yeah it is. Thanks for the invite, I'll keep it in mind when I get out that way.

Thanks Trudy. I'm picking up a load in Miami tomorrow that's heading for Gillette,WY. I do get out to Texas quite a bit.

Guy, my boss is a great guy. The whole family is very good to work with. I could wind up in your neck of the woods eventually.
on Feb 01, 2006
Thanks Trudy. I'm picking up a load in Miami tomorrow that's heading for Gillette,WY. I do get out to Texas quite a bit.

Well, my sister is moving there on Friday to live with her daughter,
I forget offhand what area of Texas. However I'm in Mn....hehe, didn't know
that there was a North Branch in Texas!
on Feb 02, 2006
Ah, that explains why I couldn't find a North Branch, TX in my mapping program . The 35W threw me off. I forgot about there being a 35W in MN too. Sorry, brain fart I guess, if I had been thinking I would have remembered you are in MN. I get through there whenever I run a load from the yard out to the Northwest.
on Feb 02, 2006
Wow M I can't imagine what seeing that wreck you survived must make you feel..grateful for sure. It's good you're able to salvage your stuff and that's very nice of your boss to call it even.

I've not been on your blog in a while, being away sick and all, now I have to play catch up. Enjoy being a tourist!