Introduction
Hello. Thanks for coming into my Blog and checking in on this page. The Heading said Me and Willie Nelson. Ive know Willie Nelson , oh 13 years. Pretty cool Dog.
The picture is MY Willie Nelson, He was 13 years old when this picture was taken in March of 2020. Ill tell you more about Him on the Back side of this story.
What to Name Him?
We as pet owners . We sometimes have a hell of a time, Giving them the Correct name. The name Should fit somewhat the Character of the Pup. So when it came to this one. My wife and middle daughter came up with the Name Willie Nelson.
3rd puppy in 3 years
The main Reason we got Willie Nelson, Well he was to be my Co Pilot when i was out on the road.
Willie arrived at his Furever home in 2007. He was a little guy. See we got him from my daughters in laws. See they had been Raising Fox Terriers, and we had gotten a puppy a year earlier. Names as i was saying Earlier. Well this is Trace Adkins to the right. We also had a Tobey Keith. he was a Rat Terrier, And then rounding out the family. Their was Charlie. Charlie we got from my sister, she just didnt want to take the time to keep him Groomed, So Charlie came to live at our house , Hence he already had the Name Charlie, We just added the Daniels, So now we also have a Charlie Daniels.
Trucking with Willie
Ok now onto the main topic. We got Willie in the summer of 2007, and as i said . I got him to take with me in the truck to keep me company. I LOVE and TRUST Dogs more than any living thing.When i was out on the road, and would be gone all week. Id call home to just to have my wife give The Boys squeaker balls, They loved playing with those Tennis Balls with the Squeaker . Took them about a whole 2 minutes to get the Squeaker out of it, But it made me HAPPY., Since i wouldnt see them all week, had to hear them having fun.
I went and took 4 LTL out to California, Sacramento area. I was gone 2 weeks . When i got home , I couldn’t believe how much he had grown.
So later on in 2007, i was dispatched to take a load down to South Carolina. Before i go ANY FURTHER. I KNEW BETTER.
Map Quest
So I loaded out of a place in Fostoria, Ohio. I knew the plant manager, We had driven truck together before. Truthfully, He should have KNOWN better. So when i got loaded, Rob was nice enough to get me directions. AS I SAID I KNEW BETTER. He got them off Map Quest.
Yes Map Quest, never before and never since have i used Map Quest, NOT DRIVING A CMV any how. I always mapped my routes out. Id called the Facility and get directions from them, I would also use a GPS. Just for time from point A to point B and they were good for finding facilities that were in Industrial Parks behind other Buildings. Using the Directions the Reciever would give me, AND somtimes that was a chore. Getting good Directions from someone that works their. Not always Good. People know how to get from point A, Home. to Point B Work and back.
ON the road again,
Just cant wait to get on the Road Again, Me and Willie Nelson. LOLOLO. Were off. South Cackalacky here me and Willie Nelson come.
So south on Interstate 75 south , Through Ohio, Through Kentucky, and then Tennessee. We arrived later that late Afternoon at K TOWN, (Knoxville). Down 640 and then onto 40 East. So Me and Willie Nelson are trucking across 40 and we come to the exits for Sevierville, and Gatlinburg, Tn. and also Pigeon Forge Tn.
I said Map Quest, And i DIDNT ROUTE MY ROUTE, SHAM SHAM SHAM ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking at the Directions Rob had Given me. I followed them. I had this Gut Feeling this was WRONG. But i followed them any how. Now the last time i had been in this area was back in 1990 or 1991.
Like i said I knew this was wrong. But me and willie nelson keep on start stop all the way down and past Dollie Wood and all the other Attractions. The last time i was their, most of it wasn’
Finally. IM now to the south end of all of this mishegoss. The directions are telling me to ver off to the Right and Continue up this 2 lane cow path. I had been looking for some time now, To find a place to turn around, But with no avail. Not to much in this area to allow big trucks access.
Ranger Smith and Boo Boo
As im typing this im really laughing my ass off and have a big smile on my face. But any how, up the side of the Mountain ME and Willie Nelson , along with Christine, thats my truck. YES named after the Movie By the same name.
Now i know DAMN RITE WELL that i/m NOT to be on this Road. But ahead we kept going looking for a turn around. Then from no where. And i didnt see it till i was past it, But on the Right side WAS A RANGER STATION. Missed it and kept going a little further, The a parking lot on the left. I turned into the lot at the SAME time i got Lite up from the Behind
Me and Willie Nelson got out of Christine, put Willie on his leash, and then here come Ranger Smith and Boo Boo.
We exchanged pleasantries for a split second. I then explained to them why i was where i was at.Then They informed Me that i was in a State Park Area of the Smokie Mountains, and then BooBoo spoke up and asked me for my Credentials.
I gave both Ranger Smith and BooBoo my Documents. Thank God I only had about 10k on the Deck of the trailer.
After going through my Documents, Boo Boo said to me . Do you know its against the LAW to have a Commercial Motor Vehicle in a State Park. That is when i realized oh SHIT.
I said well it Makes Sense. I asked her What the Fine Was going to cost me? She said well, Ill give you a Choice. I could find your Insurance Card, So its Your Choice, i asked which was the Lesser of the 2 Evils.She Replied, The insurance. I said Rite it UP.
Eating my Ticket
Ok , Now we are heading down the mountain and back through all the stop and starting. Its late by this time. Im getting tired, and at this time Their were NO E LOGS. All paper. As im heading ok to 40. I knew that their was a T/A back west. So once on 40nwest . Flipped the Dome Light on to see what Willie was doing. And OMG. He was laying on the floor by the stick. Both front paws holding the Ticket, and He’s Eating it. GIVE ME THAT i said. Litterally was eating the ticket that i just got. Explain that to the Tennesse Court system . MY DOG AT MY TICKET , Back in School, My Dog ATE My Homework.
Lucky for me . He only got the corner, but it was the corner with Ticket Number on IT.
Well we got to the T/A and found a hole to park iun. The next mornig we took off.Back east on 40 . Then that slow ass ride through the Gorge. Finally later that morning we arrived and unloaded. I did get the Fine Paid. They never questioned why the ticket looked like that.
Me and Willies Trip together
The back story on Willie. Like i said we got him in 2007. He was totally my boy. One of his Nick names was My Baby Boy. He liked to set witgh me in m y recliner , and He would set up just like a humane. He knew how to postion himself just rite to sit beside me . He would lay his head on my chest, He was MY BOY. Willie was the first Dog i raised from a puppy till he crossed.
Willie had gotten sick in February of 2020. Took him to the vet more than once. Our Vet is My Wifes Nephew. Todd told he the final time. Willie had a mass on his liver. He didnt have much time left with us. Me and My wife Mary had and immense joy from him. His names include , Wi Nelson. Ears, Mt Baby Boy. or if he was in trouble , it was just NELSON. He knew all his name, stubborn shit he was. Well anyhow i put Willie thru this for 1 month.
Crossing the Bridge
The Reason i remember his passing date. Covid Day 3-20-20. I had gotten home from trucking. As we all now know the outcome, but were we going back to work and when?
When i got int he house. Willie was laying around. I knew the Minute I LOOKED AT HIM. I couldnt bear it for him any longer. His breathing was very labored, and he wasnt wanting to move
Sat in my chair for about half an hour watching him. I said to my wife, Call Todd. NOW, Yes now.
Todd said it was gonna be a bit before he could get out to our House. I WASNT TRANSPORTING HIM.He was home. And that s where he crosses the RAINBOW BRIDGE at.
I LOVED on him for the next hour or so. Todd finally arrived. I held onto Willie as Todd gave him the 1st shot. Soon he was asleep. Then we laid him on the floor, so he could get his final dose. I hoovered over him and even laying down on the fool so i could be at his level. Then he was gone.
I JUST LOST THE 1 TRUE BEING I LOVED MORE THAN ANYTHING. I didnt know that when a dog passes, that you cant close their eye lids. After He’s gone. I picked him up, never picked a limp noodle up, nut here i was carrying Willie Nelson to Todds truck. I had him and all of the Boys Cremated. He is ALWAYS IN MY HEART, and i still have him on my phone as my Wall Paper.
Thank You
I truely hope that ypou enjoyed the read. Was fun, but also made me think back to when he and his brothers were all alive.
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