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A trucker
recounts true story of hurricane victims who, despite losing everything,
still gave to a group of hungry, stranded truckers
I just
returned from New Jersey. While en route, I got stuck in traffic on
Interstate 81, just below the Virginia state line near Bristol, TN,
because of a traffic accident with a fatality involved. The accident
involved a tanker truck that was hauling a hazardous material load that
developed a leak, which meant those of us stuck on I-81 weren’t going
anywhere for several hours.
After
being told by the
Tennessee
state troopers that we would be sitting still until the cleanup was
completed, I set the brakes on my truck and got out to stretch my legs.
Other truck drivers did the same, and at one point there were five of us
standing there by my truck, complaining.
Sitting
right beside me in the left lane, were two elderly people in a Silverado
pickup truck, which was loaded quite well. The man, Joe, lowered his
window and asked what was going on regarding the traffic situation.
Soon, we
were all talking with this couple. I mentioned that if I had known about
this, I would have bought something to drink, for I was becoming
thirsty. The lady, Anna, said that they had plenty of water, and sodas
in the cooler in the bed of the truck, and offered everyone present
something. While she was back there, she said that she had plenty of
tuna salad made up, and asked if we would be interested in a sandwich.
After some urging from Joe, we agreed to a sandwich.
While Anna
was making the sandwiches on the tailgate of the truck, she was singing
like a songbird. She had to be close to 70, I guess, and she had a
remarkable voice.
When she
finished making the sandwiches, and putting everything up, Joe raised
the tailgate of the truck to close it – I noticed a
Mississippi
license plate on it.
I inquired
as to what part of
Mississippi
they were from. Joe said
Biloxi.
Knowing that Biloxi had been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, I asked if
they sustained any damage.
Joe told us
that they had lost everything except the clothes they were wearing and
the belongings they had packed in the pickup.
All of us
drivers tried unsuccessfully to pay them for their drinks and the
sandwiches. They would have nothing to do with it.
Joe said
that their son was living around
Harrisonburg,
VA, and that they were going there.
He’s in the
real estate business and knew of a home that became open. They were
headed there to start all over. Starting over at their age, I’m sure,
would not be easy.
I will soon
be 48 years old, and I have to say that I have never eaten a tuna
sandwich with side orders of reality and humility.
These
people lost everything except their pictures, important documents, and
some clothes. Joe had managed to get their antique heirloom grandfather
clock into the bed of the truck, and Anna got their china and
silverware, but that was all. These wonderful people lost practically
everything they owned and still, would not accept any money for their
food and drinks.
Joe said,
“It is better to give than it is to receive.” They described to us how
during the hurricane they had sought refuge behind a block wall that he
had built years ago, and they watched their belongings and their home
disappear in the winds of Katrina. Joe said that during all that, he had
one hand holding onto Anna and the other holding onto God. Joe and Anna,
and their truck came out of Katrina unscathed.
As I stated
before, Anna was singing a song while making the sandwiches. The song is
titled, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” an old gospel song. She knew every
word, and was quite a gifted singer.
Have you ever heard it? The chorus of this song goes:
“Many
things about tomorrow,
I
don’t seem to understand.
But, I
know who holds tomorrow,
and I
know who holds my hand.”
There is no doubt, in my mind who was holding both of their hands.
I know
there have been many, many e-mails that have circulated over the years
about things that will touch your heart, but this one I was personally
involved in.
Forget all
of the politics that the news is thriving on, and think about people
just like Joe and Anna. If you can, help out with the victims’ relief
funds. If you cannot, at least offer a prayer for everyone involved.
I know that
these two elderly people got to this old boy. I will always remember
them.
Joe and
Anna, if by some strange way you or someone you know reads this and
shows it to you, God bless you!
Mike
Dowdy
Hartselle, AL |
