A Well-Deserved Promotion

Most of the Movin’ Out crew attended the 2026 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky last month.  When I say “most”, I am not including myself because I stayed home to keep the office running.  I’m lying… I stayed home because that show kicks my butt and I’m no longer a spring chicken.  And now I feel like a complete jagoff because my husband, who just turned 68 years old and my 89 year old Dad went to the show while I stayed home and ate 4 bags of jelly beans and watched Hallmark movies. I’m lying again… I have no remorse in doing any of that.

Any who… back to my story.  My Dad texted me the above photo during the show and asked me if I knew these two gentlemen.  I’m not gonna lie  - (wow, I’ve been doing a lot of lying, haven’t I?!) – at first, I had no clue who they were.  So, I zoomed in on their MATS badges and immediately started to smile when I read their names!

Over thirty years ago, I was working at the Movin’ Out booth at MATS.  I was wearing a dress and standing on the edge of our booth carpet, handing out copies of Movin’ Out.  Dave Hill and Mark Hoffman were walking by and I pretty much forced them to take a newspaper.  They were good sports and not only accepted a copy of Movin’ Out, but they started to work the booth alongside me, calling out to show attendees and passing out newspapers.  If I recall correctly, we had a friendly competition to see who the winner was but I have no recollection as to who actually one.

I nicknamed Dave and Mark the Movin’ Out “Paper Boys”, took their photo and published it in the next month’s issue.  Over the years, they would stop at our booth and pass out a few newspapers for old time’s sake.  I still called them my “Paper Boys”.

I haven’t been to MATS since 2012 so I was very happy and surprised when my Dad sent me the photo of Dave and Mark.  I feel that after 30 years, they deserve a promotion so I am officially giving them the title of “Paper Men”.  Pay and benefits is still the same – which is zilch, but the title is one they can wear with pride.

Thanks Dave and Mark for the friendship, smiles and laughs that we have shared over the years. I’d like to say that I will see you at next year’s truck show, but I think we all know that’s  lie.

And this is no lie, my gratitude to Steve, Dan, George, and Jack (my Dad) for working so hard every year at the show so I can eat four bags of jelly beans and binge watch Hallmark movies. You’re also not getting a pay raise but you can order a double shot of bourbon at dinner.