I participated in a Make-A-Wish convoy down by Altoona. I must say it was one of the greatest experiences: getting to help children with life-threatening illnesses have a day of what it's like to be a normal kid again.
But with all the joy they brought the truck drivers who participated in the event, I can say, for a lot of us, we also had anger inside too. The convoy route took us along Interstate 99 from East Freedom to the Pinecroft exit where we did a flip and headed back toward East Freedom.
We all had banners on the front of our trucks that read "Wish kid on board." The CB was filled with chatter from the wish kids who got to go along for the ride talking to other trucks that were in the convoy and telling the drivers to blow the air horn.
All of the sudden, one of the kids said over the CB that people in car that was passing us was using sign language he had never seen before. As I looked in my mirror to look for the car, there people in a car giving us all the finger.
Seriously, was that absolutely necessary? Yes, we were only doing 40 mph, but we had "wish kids" riding up front where they witnessed this. All we were doing was trying to give them a day away from doctor and hospital visits and try to have a "normal" day for a change.
We also had people cutting us off. It makes me so angry to have seen this. Why must people be so rude and inconsiderate?
Josh Keene
Indiana
