My good deed
Yesterday saw a stepTroll and myself driving to the far reaches of the state for some reason that escapes me now. He needed time towards his learners permit, I needed to go somewhere for no reason. (All right, I had to run an errand in Carlsbad before the holiday. Do you feel better now?)
About half way to Carlsbad, there is a rest area with nothing around for miles except a horrible sculpture made from old road cast offs, (Guardrail, light posts and the like) and signs warning you to watch for rattlesnakes.* I felt a need to make a short stop and get rid of some used coffee that was begging for a new home. We stopped in front of the restrooms, and took a moment to watch two youths in handcuffs being escorted into the other set of bathrooms by corrections officers.
When I got out of my truck, I noticed two fellas working on an old beat up pickup truck with a trailer attached. The trailer was full of cordwood, and they had obviously been woodcutting for home heat. The nearest woodcutting area that I know of is at least fifty miles from where they were now working under the hood. It seemed likely these guys were having a bad day.
After removing used coffee from my bladder, I was making way back to the car when I was approached by one of the woodcutters. He was in very dirty coveralls and wearing a knit cap with dingle balls hanging from the top. He did nothing to instill a sense of confidence in me. Quite the opposite, me made me feel uneasy.
He asked if I could give him a ride to the next town, about 45 minutes away. I explained that the back seat of my pickup was full. (I do not willingly give rides to seedy strangers. This is New Mexico, after all, and all manner of weirdness happens here.) He said that he would gladly ride in the bed.
How could I refuse? He had to be desperate if he was willing to ride in the back of an open pickup in temperatures that were below freezing. He hunkered down low in the bed as the wind worked its way onto his flesh. He was obviously very cold. I figure that the wind chill had to be 30 below. I actually almost felt sorry for him. (No. Don’t faint. I still have one feeling left.)
He made the trip without freezing to death, but did ask that I drop him off as soon as possible. He simply had to be miserable in the back of that truck, but was glad that he got a ride at all, and thanked me several times. I even wished him a Merry Christmas in return.
I guess I did my good deed for the ’05 year.
When we were driving back home, we saw the same two guys driving toward town, so I know that they got the truck fixed and were able to make it home.
Now I can start feeling all warm and fuzzy for Christmas.
What in hell am I saying? I just had a fit of ineffectual rage when I saw Frosty the Snowman and the Charlie Brown Christmas were going to be on TV again.
Bah FU**ING Humbug
NOW I feel better………
* I really do mean nothing. No trees, no houses, nothing to catch the eye. Kinda like the sea, but the dirt does not move. Seeing a cactus is an event.
About half way to Carlsbad, there is a rest area with nothing around for miles except a horrible sculpture made from old road cast offs, (Guardrail, light posts and the like) and signs warning you to watch for rattlesnakes.* I felt a need to make a short stop and get rid of some used coffee that was begging for a new home. We stopped in front of the restrooms, and took a moment to watch two youths in handcuffs being escorted into the other set of bathrooms by corrections officers.
When I got out of my truck, I noticed two fellas working on an old beat up pickup truck with a trailer attached. The trailer was full of cordwood, and they had obviously been woodcutting for home heat. The nearest woodcutting area that I know of is at least fifty miles from where they were now working under the hood. It seemed likely these guys were having a bad day.
After removing used coffee from my bladder, I was making way back to the car when I was approached by one of the woodcutters. He was in very dirty coveralls and wearing a knit cap with dingle balls hanging from the top. He did nothing to instill a sense of confidence in me. Quite the opposite, me made me feel uneasy.
He asked if I could give him a ride to the next town, about 45 minutes away. I explained that the back seat of my pickup was full. (I do not willingly give rides to seedy strangers. This is New Mexico, after all, and all manner of weirdness happens here.) He said that he would gladly ride in the bed.
How could I refuse? He had to be desperate if he was willing to ride in the back of an open pickup in temperatures that were below freezing. He hunkered down low in the bed as the wind worked its way onto his flesh. He was obviously very cold. I figure that the wind chill had to be 30 below. I actually almost felt sorry for him. (No. Don’t faint. I still have one feeling left.)
He made the trip without freezing to death, but did ask that I drop him off as soon as possible. He simply had to be miserable in the back of that truck, but was glad that he got a ride at all, and thanked me several times. I even wished him a Merry Christmas in return.
I guess I did my good deed for the ’05 year.
When we were driving back home, we saw the same two guys driving toward town, so I know that they got the truck fixed and were able to make it home.
Now I can start feeling all warm and fuzzy for Christmas.
What in hell am I saying? I just had a fit of ineffectual rage when I saw Frosty the Snowman and the Charlie Brown Christmas were going to be on TV again.
Bah FU**ING Humbug
NOW I feel better………
* I really do mean nothing. No trees, no houses, nothing to catch the eye. Kinda like the sea, but the dirt does not move. Seeing a cactus is an event.
posted by MizfiTroll at 7:06 AM
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