2003-04-18 - 8:52 p.m.
Yesterday's rain really cleaned the pollen off everything at least for a little while. My brother in law, Jimmy Mabry, got his fertilizer delivered and spread just before the rain got here. He was at work and asked me to let the truck into one of his pastures. Both Jimmy and I get our fertilizer from Gantt's Feed and Fertilizer. Either Mr.Gantt or one of his sons bring it out in the spreader truck and drive over the pastures putting it out.
Every now and then I'll hop in the truck and ride along with Mr.Gantt as he puts out my fertilizer, if I haven't eaten lunch. Now I've been on some pretty scary rides at fairs and the roller coasters at Six Flags give me a thrill, but for sheer white knuckle terror nothing beats a ride in the fertilizer truck. I don't believe there is any hill too steep or ditch so deep they won't give it a try. If detroit built all cars like they do those fertilizer trucks a car would last a lifetime. After riding on the side of a hill looking down and wondering how many times the truck would roll over before it reached the bottom, amusment park rides just loose something.
The first time I got in to ride with Mr.Gantt I wondered why there was a hand hold on the passenger side cab roof. After you get on that first hill it becomes self explanatory. You grip it for all your worth and hold on. The driver has a steering wheel to hold but you've got nothing but that hand hold and anything else you can grip.
If Mr.Gantt is laughing at you it's on the inside. He just keeps driving and holding a conversation with you. After riding a few times I actually got where I could hold up my end of the discussion and not look too nervous, so if you ever get a chance to ride on a fertilizer truck don't pass it up. Just make sure you don't eat first.
