What oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life.
– Emil Brunner
Lynsey recently introduced me to the “Drive-by Truckers“. He had purchased their CD entitled Live from Austin and he really wanted me to listen to his favourite track – 18 Wheels Of Love. I would never have anticipated my reaction to what I heard.
My mom and dad got divorced. My momma was so miserable and so unhappy she locked herself in her bedroom, and she didn’t come out for six years …
Patterson Hood told the story behind the song. It was the story of his mother, Jan, and her relationship with a trucker named Chester (who became his stepfather). Patterson had no money at the time his mother married Chester so he wrote them this song as their wedding present.
Mama ran off with a trucker …
Peterbilt Peterbilt
He is making her give life another stab
They can see the world from way up in the cab
Mama ran off with a trucker…
Peterbilt Peterbilt
She can quit her job and be his little bride
He can get a local route and stay home by her side
She can fix him roast beast and sweet potato pie
He can eat a lot of it ’cause he’s a big ole guy
They got married in Dollywood
(by a Porter Waggoner lookalike)
18 Wheels of Love
The story doesn’t end there. Chester becomes extremely ill with congestive heart failure. He is expected to die. Chester asks the hospice nurse caring for him, “When do I get to drive again?” and he is told he will never be able to do that again.
This reminded of the day my 10 year old son was told by a paediatric oncologist that he had cancer. I was there beside him as he lay in his hospital bed critically ill. I still hadn’t got over the shock of the diagnosis myself. I was trying to hold back the tears and not show my fear. Damian looked the specialist in the eyes and asked, “Am I going to die?”
I was really struggling to hold myself together at this point.
“We’ll do everything we can to help you stay alive,” she replied.
Back to Chester …
Flash forward to March of this year when I was packing my suitcase … my cellphone rang, it was my momma calling, and my momma and this little bitty dog they’ve got named Paris (for some damn reason) were on their way out to Stockton California in an 18 wheel truck with Chester behind the wheel, to see the grand-kids …
I was listening intently to the song and I never expected this last bit. I thought the phone call was to say Chester had died. Oh how wrong I was. I became overcome by emotion and I started crying. Chester was behind the wheel. How fantastic is that?
Now flash forward to today. My son Damian is still alive too! He is my daily reminder that miracles do happen and that we need to treasure every day because it can all be taken from us in a flash.
When times get tough, and they so often do, never give up hope – never, never, never. Things can always turn out completely differently to what you expected. Even science gets things wrong.
Oh yes, and you sons (and daughters) out there, don’t forget to show your love for your mother. An expression of love can take on many different forms so be creative and don’t hold back. One day it will be too late to say or do what you wanted to. Don’t have regrets, take action. This moment may be all you have.
Here is a video of the full version of the song as it appears on the CD Live from Austin.
Manifesto
05. Every day is now. The present moment.
18. Every day express love. Some people need to hear it. Most people need to see it. Don’t take it for granted.
48. Every day there are things you can’t change. You can change the way you think about them and deal with them.
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