Sunday, November 21, 2010

Getting trucking emotional

One of the things I love about motherhood are the new experiences that it brings to your life. I could talk here about love, laughter and the hilarious things that kids do... Instead, I'd like to talk about trucks.

I've never been what you'd call a 'girly' girl. I love my footy (if not, always, football players). I love my beer (oh yes, it's true). I only wear heels under sufferance. But I've never been a tomboy either. I drive a car because I have to, not because I love the beautiful sound of its V8 engine (or however many Vs my engine has). I don't put up shelves, because I am lucky enough to have The Builder to do that for me. And I've never, in my entire existence, been to a Truck Show.

Until today.

Mothers of boys find themselves doing all kinds of stuff outside the realms of previous experience. Like stopping in the main street to admire a Harley Davidson as it drives away (Mr3 is motorbike-mad - something I'll be trying hard to dissuade in the next 14 years or so). Like going to Light Rail museums. And Air Shows. And all manner of other machinery-related events.

Today's, the i98FM Camp Quality Convoy for Kids, held in a sport and recreation field about 40 minutes up the highway, featured hundreds of trucks. Enormous, gleaming vehicles with deep, loud horns. Lots of horns. When we arrived at the venue, shepherded through the gates by an army of SES volunteers, the convoy was just pulling in and the horns blew solidly for the next hour. Thirty minutes in, Mr6 turned to me and shouted, hands over ears, "We've probably had enough of the horns now Mum, don't you think?"

Probably. But I don't think anyone else was listening. Or could hear him over the horns.

Mr3 was in heaven. Not only was he surrounded by the aforementioned trucks, but we turned a corner and discovered several hundred motorbikes parked in the shadow of the sports centre. Then, oh joy of joys, a police helicopter arrived and, once it was opened up to visitors, he was able to, gasp, sit inside it. Throw in a jumping castle and his life was complete.

For a debut experience, the Truck Show was a good one. I am in awe of anyone who can reverse anything larger than a Range Rover in a straight line. My Dad and I were just talking in hushed tones the other morning about the impressive skill of the man who drives the local supermarket delivery truck and can back it into a narrow delivery dock, in a narrow street with cars parked on both sides of the road. All in under two minutes. Given that I've been known to have four attempts to get out of our driveway, I can only be impressed.

Reverse-parking aside, the sun was shining on row upon row of these behemoths of the road, which had been polished to perfection. The crowd was happy and taking part in something that was fun - and important. To understand that importance, I only had to look at the banners hung across many of the trucks. Memorial banners, featuring bright, young faces. Camp Quality is a charity for children with cancer and their families. These bright, young faces had lost their battles.

I've never, in my entire existence, felt emotional whilst staring at a truck.

Until today.

{image: Ryan's District}

16 comments:

  1. I love being the mum of boys. I still get a little thrill when I see a bulldozer & think "I must show the boys" - not sure at 18 and 17 they would be terribly interested. Reading your blog takes me back to those days & brings back lovely memories. xxx

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  2. Another mum of boys ...and loving it ;)
    My little ones are into motorbikes & tractors right now.
    I can do without truck horns but I like big trucks too- well shiny ones.

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  3. wasn't it awesome?! We didn't go to the "fun day" but we were lined up along the road along with the rest of the suburb!

    My girls were over it pretty quickly but I made them stay longer ;)

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  4. Wow, I feel emotional just reading about it. What a beautiful, memorable tribute.

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  5. Mamma of one boy and one girl. I've done all the mototcycle admiring stuff and pointing out all the big trucks and planes to him. Something great about having a real boys boy. Of course, I'm now doing all the little girl stuff too, and that is just adorable - and she likes football and telling me everytime she sees a digger, so maybe its not all just for the boys.

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  6. I love stuff like this...my son is a monster truck freak, and we have been to many shows.... either that or I bribe a grandparent to do it for me....but the bit at the end of your post got me the most.... wow

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  7. Al, this is lovely. I spent time with my nephew in Kalgoorlie, who nearly passed out with joy at the sight of one of those huge mining trucks in the St Barbara's Day Parade...

    Charlie is not into trucks or diggers or motorbikes much, I now realise. I am not sure whether to be worried or relieved?

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  8. I was a tomboy and still am. I would have loved that show, as would my sons. Sounds like a great day out:) Jen

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  9. After travelling in the back of a truck across Africa and the Middle East for 6 months, I confess I have often been emotional around trucks. The beauty of our world is overwhelming at times, which makes me certain that those kids are still truckin' somewhere, Al.

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  10. I intially thought what a funny title. Was smiling in agreeance as to where motherhood takes us in new experiences (trucks that's new), and inevitably very sad by the end. Great tale, and glad you had such a great time (their joy is my joy is my motto) and supported a great cause.

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  11. But have you done the Monster Truck Show yet ? I must confess to being a fairly girly girl, but once, before I had a son, I went to The Drags and I absolutely loved it, guess that makes me a closet Rev Head :)

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  12. The Convoyers congregate quite close to my house and yesterday I was all *grumble grumble* "Shannon bloody Noll" *grumble grumble*. But you're entirely right; it raises money for a more than worthy cause. And I'm glad Mr3 thought it was great.

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  13. PMSL Tenille -there was a bit of that grumbling in our quarter as well. But you're right. For a good cause we can even clap along to Mr Noll. Although we did leave before he did his stuff as we had another engagement. Such is the busy life of Fam Fibro.

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  14. Trucks are a seriously cool commodity in our house.

    Both my son and daughter would have absolutely loved to see all those trucks in convoy (and they are used to big machinery)!

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  15. The thing I like about really big trucks is the decorative paintworks on some of them. Ditto Harley-Davidsons. The art on some of those is truly impressive. I live on a main road that sees these big trucks going in both directions several, well, many, times a day.

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