Siren's Song

[paulacas]

For the past four months I have done everything in my power to stay out of a tractor-trailer, but they keep whispering their siren songs in my ear.

My husband was ill and instead of taking another day off and having another short paycheck (no sick pay for coal haulers), he asked me to ride with him as backup in case he got too ill to drive.

We left the house before daylight and headed for the coal mine. As the lights from town faded, the stars started their pre-dawn light show. The waning moon stood witness resting on the tips of the mountains.

As we drove east toward our destination, we topped one of the higher peaks. I was reminded of one of the reasons I enjoyed driving truck. Looking out across the dawn panorama of the Appalachian Mountains, I am reminded of the power and magnificence of nature.

Then the siren’s song of the broken yellow line becomes a little louder and the battle starts anew.