I appreciate you.
I'm a trucker. In trucking, we are always telling each other that we appreciate each other. A typical conversation on the CB radio might go something like this.
"How 'bout ya west bound? What did you leave behind you?"
"You got a bear looking at you at the 186. Other than that I haven't seen anything to the state line."
"I appreciate it, west bound, Your weigh station was open. They looked like they were just rolling you across. Other than that you're looking good back to the city."
I'm not sure how it got started, but I've been in trucking since 1996 and we have been telling each other that we appreciate each other since then. It's probably been going on a lot longer than that.
My thinking is that it was started by drivers who feel unappreciated in their daily duties. When you are doing a thankless job, it's nice to hear someone say that they appreciate you and what you do.
Trucking is hard. Not only is it a hard job, people are often mean to you in the course of your work as a trucker making the job harder than it already is. It's gotten to the point that truckers are often mean to each other. So when I hear a good ol' boy telling me that he appreciates me on the CB for a come back on the traffic conditions, it makes me feel a little better- like there is still some goodness and kindness in the world.
You know what? I have noticed that truckers don't say that they appreciate each other as much as they used to. It seems like a general trend in our society. We're quicker to put each other down and insult each other than we are to build each other up and tell each other that we are appreciated.
Feeling unappreciated, especially when you've got a hard job to do, can have negative effects into other aspects of your life. I got into a bit of an argument last night with my wife because my feeling of being unappreciated kind of boiled over into our relationship. My wife does appreciate me and she loves me. I guess I just need to hear it more often than other people might because I work my ass off and people just seem to take it for granted and even put me down in the course of performing a necessary and vital job.
So it is in that spirit that I want to tell you all out there that I appreciate you. Thank you for doing what you do. It takes us all to make the world go around. 10-4? 
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And i appreciate the ladies abd genlemen behind the wheel piloting those trucks.
I'm old-fashioned and at least try to follow the traditional ladies and gentlemen methods that helps keep our society sane and happy.
One of those traditions is called "affirmation" in a conversation, which are phrases that affirm the other's self-worth and the value of what they've said. Those phrases are (were) typically used at the start of a statement, such as "I appreciate it", or simply the word "right" or "you're right". That sets the tone between individuals and encourages civility.
I think social media is partially to blame, but also parents not teaching kids old-fashioned values and traditions. Right-wing politics is extremely corrosive as well. I'm hearing more and more smart-ass and snark in everyday conversations and like you, it eats at my very core.
Thanks for your hard work and be safe on that highway!.....
a race course most of the time. I learned to drive in southern California in 1966. Drove Los Angeles free ways for many years. Have moved across country from Santa Monica to St Joseph, MO then from Lincoln, NE to Chapel Hill, NC by driving. The first move my husband and I drove together with a 2 year old in a car seat. The second move we each drove a car: he had the dog in the back seat and our 10 year old son in the front seat while I had our two kitties in the back seat and our almost 14 year old son riding shotgun with me. No cell phones. No communication.
It's been my observation over the years that truckers used to be the best and most courteous drivers on the road. I wouldn't say that now. Too many of them will ride right up on your bumper even in the far right lane. Too many of them will drive the left lane, exceeding the speed limit. Too many of them will weave in their lane, making passing them a nerve wracking experience. But they aren't alone. In the 50 years I've been driving, I've noticed courtesy deteriorate a lot. No use of turn signals. Tailgating. Weaving in and out of lanes at high speeds. Failure to yield to pedestrians.
It seems to be a lot more of "get out of my way, here I come" on the road. Me, me, me. It's a reflection of society at large and it's not good. There is more incivility on the road, just like there is more incivility at large. Less courtesy. That's why we take notice now of acts of kindness, concern, and appreciation that used to be the norm. You see it here on DU.
We can all be ambassadors of kindness to and appreciation for others. Thanks for that reminder, Tobin.
Several years ago you had a post stating you were a truck driver, ask you anything. I asked about the runaway ramps - something I long wondered about - and you answered all my questions. This weekend, even though there was not a runaway ramp on my route, I thought of you and your answer.
I appreciate you.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x9547378
but mostly for being YOU! 
And also for being a trucker.
I don't know how you do it.
Might be the moon or something cause several of us have been in a funk as of late. I hope this thread lets you realize just how loved and appreciated you are. 
the standard on the CB. I remember back into the mid 1970s and it was usually cordial out on the road. Not so much anymore, I noticed a decline back in the early 90s when I retired, can't imagine what it's like now.
It is a hard job and you're right, people don't appreciate that everything they have came on a truck and if it weren't for drivers and trucks, that stuff would not make it to where they can get it.
Come to think of it, my commute involves being stuck in traffic with a lot of semis. I like to think about what life as a trucker might be like. I tend to glamorize it, though. But I have noticed that about 99% of truckers are very respectful and look out for the other drivers. Yep, I do notice...
I just go by Toby which is my nickname, but the one they gave me in driving school was Slow Motion.
And, yes, we still have our lingo.
It's good to see you posting, and fortunate for me that I strolled through the Lounge tonight. I used to live here, remember?
It does indeed take all of us to make the world go round.
10-4!
I remember when you married and studied and quite a few of the ins and outs of your life. And I’ve always thought “This is a kind, loving, interesting man.” I appreciate all those qualities. It’s good to know there are people like you up in those cabs, making life work for the rest of us.
You’re right. I’ll try to say it more often. It makes a difference. 
