Autumn Thoughts Turn to Travel
Its that time of year when we start thinking about traveling.
This is a story about a man named Ed who lived for traveling. Not like the traveling people do today - not Thailand and Europe. Although, his combined miles would probably go around the globe many times.
Ed started driving at the age of 14 in 1938. Being 6foot2 at the age of 14 usually meant you would have to make your own way in the dirty 30's. Driving cab in the city got him away from the farm and gave him an opportunity he'd never even imagined - meeting people. You see, next to driving Ed's favourite pastime was talking. Probably the result of years of having no one to talk to but the horses where he grew up.
After a few years of this he found a wife (in his cab) and started a family (hopefully not in the cab!). Cab driving was soon upgraded to driving transport truck - the big 18 wheelers were soon regularly parked outside the humble bungalow. Most befitting of a man of his stature. Since Ed was a common name in the 1940's his nickname soon became Big Eddy to discern him from his brother in law or neighbour Ed.
Driving 18 wheelers was time consuming as the routes were often highway traffic dependent. This didn't deter Ed from buying his growing family a new house - with two floors and two bathrooms! It was after all 1966. Keeping up with the Jones's was a must.
Summer vacations varied between handyman work on the cottage or - you guessed it - driving the family out to western Canada to see the Stampede, Toronto for family or Quebec for Expo 67.
But driving truck takes a toll on the body so after years of being a Teamster, and driving the repetitive Toronto Montreal corridor, Ed decided to take a softer seat - driving Coachline buses. The big comfy armchairs of the coach bus meant Nashville and Fort MacMurray were easy drives. New York City and Florida were places a farm boy could only dream of going in the 1930's.
With age Ed downsized - drove school bus, drove handicapped children to boarding schools, did newspaper runs...until one day it was time to retire. Something he never let on that he was looking forward to but I am sure he thought it would be a great way to do some traveling. And when he wasn't traveling he was probably planning a trip. He was unassuming to look at - but anyone who ventured to strike up a conversation would soon learn a lot about travel trivia. He could tell you exactly how far Wawa was from Kenora and how long it would take to get there traveling at this speed...he could tell you where to stop for the best slice of pie or cheapest hotel... Often this information was given whether you wanted to know or not!
The next 20 years saw many variations of minivans and trucks and comfortable sedans. Ed had one last favourite pastime - vehicles. And he was always in one. Usually on his way to Alberta. Ontario to Alberta was his annual escape 1987-2005, he drove it over 20 times.
He gave me my nickname 'Roadrunner'. I hope I can live up to it - big shoes to fill.
Ed passed away Sept 18 2006 at the age of 82 after a few days of illness. He always felt guilty for all those years when he was not home closer to his family - hopefully spirits have no guilt and he is free to travel as much as he wants now. Ed was my father.
This is a story about a man named Ed who lived for traveling. Not like the traveling people do today - not Thailand and Europe. Although, his combined miles would probably go around the globe many times.
Ed started driving at the age of 14 in 1938. Being 6foot2 at the age of 14 usually meant you would have to make your own way in the dirty 30's. Driving cab in the city got him away from the farm and gave him an opportunity he'd never even imagined - meeting people. You see, next to driving Ed's favourite pastime was talking. Probably the result of years of having no one to talk to but the horses where he grew up.After a few years of this he found a wife (in his cab) and started a family (hopefully not in the cab!). Cab driving was soon upgraded to driving transport truck - the big 18 wheelers were soon regularly parked outside the humble bungalow. Most befitting of a man of his stature. Since Ed was a common name in the 1940's his nickname soon became Big Eddy to discern him from his brother in law or neighbour Ed.
Driving 18 wheelers was time consuming as the routes were often highway traffic dependent. This didn't deter Ed from buying his growing family a new house - with two floors and two bathrooms! It was after all 1966. Keeping up with the Jones's was a must.
Summer vacations varied between handyman work on the cottage or - you guessed it - driving the family out to western Canada to see the Stampede, Toronto for family or Quebec for Expo 67.
But driving truck takes a toll on the body so after years of being a Teamster, and driving the repetitive Toronto Montreal corridor, Ed decided to take a softer seat - driving Coachline buses. The big comfy armchairs of the coach bus meant Nashville and Fort MacMurray were easy drives. New York City and Florida were places a farm boy could only dream of going in the 1930's.
With age Ed downsized - drove school bus, drove handicapped children to boarding schools, did newspaper runs...until one day it was time to retire. Something he never let on that he was looking forward to but I am sure he thought it would be a great way to do some traveling. And when he wasn't traveling he was probably planning a trip. He was unassuming to look at - but anyone who ventured to strike up a conversation would soon learn a lot about travel trivia. He could tell you exactly how far Wawa was from Kenora and how long it would take to get there traveling at this speed...he could tell you where to stop for the best slice of pie or cheapest hotel... Often this information was given whether you wanted to know or not!
The next 20 years saw many variations of minivans and trucks and comfortable sedans. Ed had one last favourite pastime - vehicles. And he was always in one. Usually on his way to Alberta. Ontario to Alberta was his annual escape 1987-2005, he drove it over 20 times.
He gave me my nickname 'Roadrunner'. I hope I can live up to it - big shoes to fill.
Ed passed away Sept 18 2006 at the age of 82 after a few days of illness. He always felt guilty for all those years when he was not home closer to his family - hopefully spirits have no guilt and he is free to travel as much as he wants now. Ed was my father.
posted by Roadrunner at 11:07 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home