As it turns out, the guy riding with the soldier son is not dead. He was in the hospital, critical with a breathing thing.  The soldier says he's not eaten in 24 hours they've been driving - he has no money - 5 kids. 

The soldier tried to buy him something to eat but he said no.

Holy God. What kind of a world are we living in that a man can be working and not afford to eat?

sigh.

anyway you slice it, it's sad as hell. 

Can the soldier use the "pay it forward" approach?  Drivers look out for each other and this new guy has to learn this, the shoe might be on the other foot someday, and an experienced driver knows this.  The newbie is building a new clan on the road.

He's not new, he is poor. He is out of his truck to make an emergency trip home because his kid was dying.  He is now on his way back to his truck via the soldier and I am sure he will do what he can but he will not take a man's manhood and if the guy says he doesn't want anything to eat, then he doesn't want anything to eat.

It is and agonizing situation and hopefully he will be out of it tomorrow.

When you kid is sick, it is expensive. My daughter's bills were just shy of $30,000 - that was my end after insurance paid 85%! It's mind boggling, it just wipes you out on every level.

That's so very sad.  What a tough life.  Is the child going to be ok?  Do you know how old he is? 

My prayers to both of them.  You'd give anything to not have it be your kid, or anyone's kid for that matter.  I once had my wages attached, and a house lien, when my daughter was being treated for cancer.  And it was an utter living hell, I don't think I would have "made" it, if it wasn't for my friends who just let me cry.

We haven't been able to talk. They are in a truck together so I get called as he walks into a truck stop or something.

((((daisy))))

I just can't stand to see humble people suffer.  When I see them walking down a road I've already been down,  I just want to walk with them, you know the mentality, He ain't heavy, he's my brother.  Sometimes I forget people need to just walk alone for a little while.

Well this is not working out very well for my husband. First he had to lose a day and a half waiting on the guy. Now he has to split the money that would have been paid to him alone, he paid all the tolls (but expects to be reimbursed for half) the guy smokes when the soldier is trying not to, he reports he smells horrible and he does not brush his teeth.

At the moment he is asleep in the the soldier's bed, the next load the soldier will not be paid for at all which means he has now made 1/2 a day's pay for 4 days gone and all because he was helping out a guy with a dead kid who is not dead.

On top of that, the guy is quitting in a month and has a job lined up where he will make 4 times what the soldiers (illegal driving) so who really got the short end of the stick, hmm?

It's never really black or white is it?  Sorry the soldier is getting the short end of the stick. 

Sounds like a lousy deal to me. Good Karma though. The Soldier must have million bucks in the good karma bank!

No. I don't think he does, Orlando. He is in debt, he'd tell you, that is why things like this happen to him and he'd go on to tell you, if you're smart you'll do what you can to avoid his situation.

Oh for crimeny sakes.  Maybe that guy needs to read your Tempting Fate post. Maybe he will get the red light at his first weigh station, his first day on the job.  My guess is this, who ever hires illegals usually also scrimps on their equipment, I mean why play by all the rules.  So  I hope for the lives of the innocent its not an 80.000lb rolling wreck.

Trying real hard not to get cynical here.  This guy WILL someday, somehow, someway, come out on the short end of the stick.  Not the soldier as his integrity is still intact.

Not to loose sight of the original post.  There are still lots of humble, honestly working poor people out there. 

Shoot!

Orlando - he'd tell you he only has himself to blame. It is profound to witness, I can tell you that.  You don't have to be all that smart to figure out he knows what he's talking about.

It seems lately most everyone I know is "working poor".  

As in barely able to afford the gas it takes to fill up the car to get to the job that is supposed to be paying the bills.  And having to put groceries on credit cards, because there is just not enough money after the bills are paid.  I don't know, people are being squeezed to the max, something sure as hell has got to give.

 The soldier has his truck back but has not shook the guy yet.  He is coming back and he doesn't know how to get rid of his "new best friend".

He says the truck smells and it's not the cigarettes as much as the guy's feet.  He finally made him eat. "I bought him dinner last night and breakfast this morning..."

That's a tough situation.  How do you lose someone without looking like a turd or becoming that person's enemy?  Dilemma, big time.

"I had to buy two of them breakfast. I have to buy my friends, P, Me and Dora have to buy our friends. Dora has to tie a pork chop around her neck if she wants anyone to play with her..."

Hahaha that poor silly dog!!