LAND OF THE DELTA BLUES

For the sake of getting home on Friday, I lingered at the West Memphis OC for much of the day. My 8-day hours are dwindling, so I had to make a detailed trip plan for our loads to Detroit, Tulsa, and back to the Ozarks. I will be leaning on my co-driver's less depleted supply of hours to get us there on time.

I enjoyed engaging in nonproductive activities in the cafeteria, surrounded by several other Wifi-consuming drivers. I organized online pictures from years past and played several rounds of solitaire.

Just as I became ready for something else to do, an announcement boomed throughout the building: they were looking for someone to take a driver to the airport. I immediately powered down my equipment and volunteered for the adventure. Getting out and about in the company car sounded like just the stimulation I needed. The circumstance surrounding this outing was sad, as it turned out: the driver's mother had just passed away suddenly. He had to get home to Dallas as quickly as possible. It took about 20 minutes to get to the Memphis International Airport, and about the same amount of time to get back.

Back at the OC, I noticed something different: Pilot Travel Center fuel tankers re-supplying the Schneider underground tanks with diesel. Interesting.

My dad has his open-heart procedure on Friday. Everyone is expecting it to go well. I will take my wife and kids to visit him in the Oklahoma City hospital, a few days afterward. My mom, grandpa and brother will be going to Oklahoma in the morning.