by Caleb Jones cjones@amec.coop
I’ve figured out the best medicine for a long day at the office isn’t found in a bottle – it’s found on a lettered two-lane blacktop. There’s something about taking the long way home, rolling the windows down and letting the wind blow the day’s worries out the window that works better than any other elixir I’ve found. By the time I pull into my driveway, my blood pressure’s a little lower and my attitude’s a whole lot better.
Part of that might come from spending a few years living in the “city” in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. While I learned a lot working for some great leaders, I also developed a deep-seated hatred for traffic jams. If you ever want to test someone’s patience, put them in a stick shift farm truck in stop-and-go traffic for a few miles. You can bet dollars to donuts they’ll end up with either a leg cramp from that clutch or a full-blown mental breakdown.
Photo by Don Pritchard
That’s probably why I smile now when I find myself in what I like to call a hillbilly traffic jam. Last week, while driving on a backroad blacktop, I came up behind a combine and grain cart inching their way to the next field. For nearly 10 minutes, I followed along, windows down, radio off, just watching them head for the field. And for some reason, I didn’t mind one bit.
I’ve realized the real problem with traffic jams isn’t sitting still – it’s why you’re stuck. If you’re waiting because of carelessness or poor planning, that’s one thing. But if you’re waiting because someone’s bringing in a harvest that feeds your family or maintains a line that keeps your lights on, that’s a different story.
I get more than my share of phone calls from my friends and neighbors wondering why their local electric co-op is cutting down trees or moving power lines. The answer is simple: it’s not to frustrate anyone. It’s to keep the lights on for everyone. Every pole set, line trimmed or right-of-way cleared is another step toward ensuring you have affordable, reliable electricity; not just for you, but for your neighbors and the next generation.
So the next time you find yourself in a traffic jam – or any situation that gets your blood boiling – take a moment to ask why. You might find the reason is a good one. And if you’re lucky, maybe it’s even a hillbilly traffic jam.
Caleb Jones is the executive vice president and CEO of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. He is a member of Boone Electric Cooperative.