Kiernan and Shannon were owner/operators that were heading west from Denver with a load going to San Jose, California. Kiernan was driving while Shannon slept when all of a sudden he was passed by another Northern Van Lines owner/operator whose name was also painted on the side of his truck.

“Oh wow! His last name is also Kennedy!” Kiernan said aloud to himself.

Kiernan told the other driver that he’d missed him after he’d passed if he wanted to come back over.

“Okay, Sam Kennedy you missed me if you want to bring it back over.”

There was a slight pause.

“Okay thanks Northern, I appreciate it!” Came the reply.

“Where you headed Sam?” Kiernan asked.

“Going to San Francisco, what about you?”

“Going to San Jose.” Kiernan answered.

“Well, come on now, let’s go!” Sam stressed.

“Okay, let’s do it!” Kiernan agreed.

The two men enjoyed a great conversation for several hours before Shannon got up and announced that she was hungry and where were they stopping for supper?

Kiernan invited Sam to stop and join them and was pleased to hear that he would.

The three of them stopped in Utah at a truck stop and Sam announced that he had to call home because his wife was expecting their second child and she was due anytime.

Shannon asked if they were hoping for a girl or a boy and Sam said they already had a little girl so they were hoping for a boy. Of course Shannon had to tease him now.

“Well, you know Sam…she’s gonna have another girl…”

Sam grinned and played along.

“No way, Shannon! It’s gonna be a boy!”

His wife was still at home.

They all took off and headed down the road.

Kiernan asked Sam where he was from and Sam replied “Alabama”.

“Where are you from Kiernan?”

“Michigan and Shannon’s from Texas.”

The conversation eventually somehow wound up about the Civil War with Kiernan getting angry about the way Black Americans were treated down south.

Sam laughed at him.

“Man, Kiernan! I’m the Black guy and you’re the one getting hot!”

Kiernan explained that he just had a problem with anyone being mistreated and enslaved by another human being.