7 Days in Dallas and Getting to Kansas

Dallas, Texas. Wow. I'd heard about it, have had friends and family who lived there and hoped one day I'd get to see it too. I did see it for 7 days, but not like a tourist sees a city. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day when I drove into town around 2pm on Tuesday, January 13th. The next time I saw it in the sunshine was the last day I was there on Sunday, January 18th.

I didn't leave for Steve's house in Fort Worth until after helping set up the showroom, getting a tour and instructions for the logistics of the show. By then it was after 8 pm and boy did I have to stay on my toes to keep behind Steve. He moved in and out of traffic and I had to "floor it" more than once. By the time we got to his house, it was around 9 pm. He offered to help me bring in my things and I declined, thanking him and explaining that I always take too much stuff and it would be embarrassing to have anyone else have to drag in all the paraphernalia I take when I travel.

I have to list some of my gear (don't laugh):

-One large suitcase (with a smaller one inside containing my medical apparatus) for shoes, etc.
-one medium suitcase with all sorts of personal items that wouldn't fit in the big suitcase
-large garment bag (containing 3 Sports Coats, 6 long-sleeve shirts, ties and 4 pairs dress slacks)
-small cooler with blue ice to keep perishables cold
-large rolling bag (for catalogs and sales presentation material)
-Laptop computer bag (includes my Dell, misc. computer stuff and misc. other stuff)
-2 briefcases. One has work-related and office stuff (like staplers, etc.) and the other is personal
-Misc. bags containing brochures, maps and snacks for the road
-My favorite two pillows and my favorite blanket and quilt

Needless to say, it took more than one trip and I had Steve wondering just how long I was planning to stay? I told him I might never leave. Seriously, though; all the stuff I drag with me when I travel helps me settle wherever I land (sometimes I'm gone a day or two, sometimes a week or two) and I usually use every item I bring...except fortunately I've never needed the personal weaponry I take for self-defense. I was very grateful to have my own bedroom and bathroom, although I wouldn't spend much time awake in Steve's house, I was busy whenever I was awake.

Wednesday thru Saturday flew by as follows. Up at 6 am (4 am back home) to shower and gone by 7 am to get to Dallas before 8 am. Dark drive to the showroom and dark drive home. We typically left Dallas to go back to Fort Worth between 8 and 9 pm; except for leaving a little early on Saturday (wonder of wonders we got home around 7:30). The company (thankfully and another huge blessing/miracle) brought in food for breakfast, lunch and dinner! We didn't have any formal meals, just ate whenever we could. That was alright with me, I was just so grateful to have food as I had no money until Friday.

Another blessing: Steve drove his car to and from Dallas every day for five days, so I didn't have that stress. All he asked (and this was only after I brought it up) was for me to fill his tank up once, and it was only $28 to do it. By the time he asked me to do this on Friday, I had finally gotten my little paycheck (thank you direct deposit) and was able to do so. When we didn't get dinner on Saturday night, I was able to spend a few dollars for a nice burger and fries at Steve's favorite hamburger stand. Before I left, I put another $20 bill on Steve's desk towards gas for the last half of the show and some candy to thank him for all he did in accomodating me. How amazing is it that a person I had only seen once in 10 years would take me into his home and treat me like a best friend?

Another note: I was so blessed to have found an extra pair of shoes before I left ($5 at DI), which gave me two comfortable pair to make being on my feet for over 10 hours a day tolerable. I'm still so grateful to the orthopedic surgeon who operated on my feet after my mission and made it possible for me to be on my feet without pain. I wonder how I could have done the things I've done in my life since 1980 had Dr. Millet not so skillfully sewed me back together?!

This was my first show of this type, ever. I am humbled to record that I wrote orders with about 30 different customers in six days. I was blessed to open 4 new accounts, in addition to seeing 4 of my own customers and one for the other Utah Rep, Kay Kelly. I wrote over $60,000 in business for the company; including $18,000 for my Utah, Idaho and Nevada customers.

The week before I went to Dallas, Kay wrote many times that for my customers who went to the Atlanta show. After I got home, I wrote more business with customers that had not had time to meet with me or Kay to write business at either show. I am convinced that I would not have a job right now, today; if I had not been able to make the trip to Dallas, nor would I have the knowledge to have continued to write the business I wrote in the three weeks immediately following my return.

I didn't set any records for performance at the show. Fact is, I wrote half of what my boss had tasked me to write for my customers and much less than the company would have liked to see me put on the books. The numbers I wrote in the preceding paragraphs are only significant to me and my family, because the income from that one week (when I get paid for it) will equal my average pay for one month. My last day working was Sunday, but the show continued until Tuesday. By then, I had driven through Oklahoma and Kansas. I made it to Steamboat Springs late Tuesday night, but first of all, let me share more miracles of Monday and Tuesday's journey towards home.

I had a lot of paperwork to do on Monday, so I didn't start driving until much later than planned, although I got up when Steve left at 7 am to say goodbye and start packing. after the paperwork and some errands, I filled up my car with gas and left Fort Worth at 2:oo pm. I had already driven 1967 miles in my round-about and circuitious route through six states to get to Dallas and then Fort Worth, after leaving Salt Lake. Then I rode as a passenger for another 750 miles back and forth from Forth Worth to Dallas in Steve's car. I only had another 1369 miles to go before I would get back to my apartment in Sugar House!

When I said my paycheck was small, I was understating the facts. Actually, I had to withdraw $100 on Friday, in case I couldn't get more...as it turns out, I was only able to withdraw another $140 to last me the rest of the way home and to cover all food and gas expenses. I hoped it would be enough. Back home, Correne finally was able to go to the store and get some groceries and pay a few bills.

I planned to try to drive to Steamboat Springs in one day, which looked conceivable on paper. I didn't feel I could afford to spend a night in a motel, but didn't really know how I could drive so far in one day. When I was younger, I could drive for 10 or 12 hours straight; but that was then. Now, I'm doing great if I can drive for 6 or 8 hours. Still, I knew I would have to do what I would have to do.

As I left on Monday afternoon, I called my sister Sheri to tell her I was on my way. I had called her Sunday night to tell her my plan and how excited I was to finally get to see her home in Colorado! When she answered the phone, she almost immediately said, "John, Steve (her husband Steve West) and I have discussed it and we don't feel comfortable with your trying to drive so far in one day. If you can find a hotel room for around $50, we'll take care of it for you." What a relief! How thankful I was. Now I could just drive until I was tired and then crash. Who reading this can question that the Lord was looking out for me, through my sweet sister?

I drove 230 miles, without stopping and without any worries, for a change. I drove by and through several small towns that I knew about because the cable systems in these towns were owned by my former employer, Cable ONE. I wanted to stop and see some of my friends, but instead drove between Sherman, Texas and Duncan, OK; then passed right through Ardmore, Oklahoma, before I got gas and grabbed a snack at 4:40 pm in Guthrie, Oklahoma (near Oklahoma City). I was back on the road again pretty quickly, after rushing into the rest room for a quick pit stop.

The next 220 miles was quite pleasant. One last town that had a friend from Cable ONE in Ponca City tempted me to stop, but I kept going. I loved the rolling hills and all the neat small towns. I could have stopped at almost every one, just to get a feel for the area and enjoy the warmth that always seems present in rural America. I had to force myself not to stop. It was good weather again all afternoon, as it had been for my entire trip! By 8:15, I was in Salina, Kansas and had to decide whether or not to keep going. I had thought it might be a good place to rest, but once I got there, I wanted to get closer to home, so I turned west and headed towards Colorado. I wanted to head west, but I've never been to Missouri and was only 176 miles from Kansas City. Even that was tempting for a guy like me. I resisted and drove another 90 miles towards Hays.

The farther west I drove, the more windy it got. Along my way that day I'd been talking to Correne on my cell phone and she'd been checking on Hotel/Motels for me. In Oklahoma I'd seen a billboard ad for a hotel chain, Baymont Springs. It had caught my eye, because it advertised a rate of about $50 a night. Sure enough, when Correne got online she found a Baymont Springs in Hays, Kansas! She gave me the number and I started negotiating a rate with them as I drove. They started by telling me it would be $89. I mentioned the billboard and eventually got them down to $59, but they didn't want to go lower.

I called other places and found somewhere that would accept less than $50, but it didn't sound too good. When I got to Hays and went in person, I was even less impressed with the cheap place. After some in-person negotiating, I got the price down to $54 with tax. It was so nice to get a good Motel and sleep in a non-smoking room. Much as I enjoyed being with my friend Steve in Fort Worth and Robert in Odessa; both of them smoke in their homes, so I got some second hand smoke in my system for six straight days. I slept so well, it was just amazing. What a great blessing! I don't know how I could have kept driving, but that's not all.

When I called Sheri on Tuesday morning to tell her I was on my way, she asked me if I had heard about the storm west of Hays and in eastern Colorado? I had heard something in my Motel on the news while getting ready to go, but hadn't paid too much attention to it. Sheri explained that the wind had blown a semi across the road and it had been closed for the entire night! Another miracle or blessing or tender mercy, whatever you want to call it. I know I was being protected and guided to stop when I did.

It was the morning of the inauguration, so I watched the pagaentry as I worked on my computer. Several customers had called me and I needed to call them back, update my computer and take care of several things I had been unable to resolve while in Dallas. I'm going to deviate from my dialogue a little and mention some feelings about the state of our economy and our country.

I was amazed at the lengths to which America went to celebrate and almost deify this President before and after the inaugural ceremony. And the money that we spend on such things. And the trouble our country is in right now. And the economic disaster that has hit me right between the eyes, as it has a lot of folks.

The solution is no different than it has ever been. Worship God, not man. Obey his commandments. Have integrity and deal with others honestly and fairly. Do what is right, not what you can get away with because it is legal. Too many greedy and immoral men have hurt so many people through their selfish and self-gratifying behavior and I believe this is at the heart of our countries current problems. All I feel that I can do is to say what I think when possible and mostly do what is right myself. I'm grateful Correne and my children are all trying so hard to do what is right. The consequences of righteous behavior are great blessings. The converse of righteous behavior is present in what is going on in our country.

President Obama swore to preserve, protect and uphold our constitution and faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States. I hope he does. We need him to do so. I pray for him and for our great country every day. We need God to bless America now more than ever before. I only hope we have enough righteous people here now to merit the blessings we so desperately need.

I better take a breather and write more later. I'll close this entry by saying that I am so grateful to be a citizen of the United States. I love this country and her people. I love my friends and appreciate them so much. I am even more thankful for my family; both the family I started with my wife, and the one into which I was born. Exceeding all else however is the gratitude and reverence I feel towards our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ. Whatever would have happened had not two thirds of the hosts of heaven followed Christ instead of Satan?