Thursday, January 25, 2007
Almost a normal morning
Driving to work, listening to the radio, the sun is shining and there's a blue sky. I've been here for 18 months, so by now I know the route backwards. By leaving at 9am and taking the back roads through to I35, I know the journey will be no longer than 30 minutes.
They're talking about NHL Hockey on the radio. It's amusing enough, but I don't really understand the fine details. A bus was stopping at the rail roads, an 18 wheeler at the previous junction held up one lane so I could zip round on the other. A normal morning, just like all the others.
I'm one road away from work. Relaxed. Looking forward to creating some fun stuff. Looking forward to eating the croissant I bought from 7-11 on the way in.
Then, it happens.
A pick-up truck pulls out of a parking lot at the side of the road. I'm probably doing 40 miles an hour, and he pulls straight out, no more than 20 metres ahead of me. Shit.
I slam on the brakes, but clearly I'm not going to stop in time. I realise this as I'm ploughing towards his bonnet and driver's door.
Time for evasive action. The rest of the road is empty, so I turn hard left. I screech as my Explorer makes a move that most circus dancers would be proud of. The tyres screech, the stuff in the car goes flying, I still can't stop in time and he's still driving forwards, while beeping his horn. Like his horn's going to help us now.
The sharp turn is very sharp. Sharp enough to get my past the front of his truck, although by this time we're both on the far side of the road. Sharp enough to simulate rally driving. The combination of turning, braking, skidding and manouvring means I end up in the front lot of another business on the far side of the road.
But, I didn't hit him, and he didn't he me.
He stops. I stop. We both sit there, wondering what to do next. I turn round and pull behind him and get out.
"Man, I didn't see you there as I was pulling out - vision is really bad on that turning, and you were coming so fast."
Never mind. No vehicle was hurt, no person was injured. We went our separate ways, thankful that the road was empty, the weather was good and no-one got hurt.
I'm sitting here, shaking like a leaf now though.
They're talking about NHL Hockey on the radio. It's amusing enough, but I don't really understand the fine details. A bus was stopping at the rail roads, an 18 wheeler at the previous junction held up one lane so I could zip round on the other. A normal morning, just like all the others.
I'm one road away from work. Relaxed. Looking forward to creating some fun stuff. Looking forward to eating the croissant I bought from 7-11 on the way in.
Then, it happens.
A pick-up truck pulls out of a parking lot at the side of the road. I'm probably doing 40 miles an hour, and he pulls straight out, no more than 20 metres ahead of me. Shit.
I slam on the brakes, but clearly I'm not going to stop in time. I realise this as I'm ploughing towards his bonnet and driver's door.
Time for evasive action. The rest of the road is empty, so I turn hard left. I screech as my Explorer makes a move that most circus dancers would be proud of. The tyres screech, the stuff in the car goes flying, I still can't stop in time and he's still driving forwards, while beeping his horn. Like his horn's going to help us now.
The sharp turn is very sharp. Sharp enough to get my past the front of his truck, although by this time we're both on the far side of the road. Sharp enough to simulate rally driving. The combination of turning, braking, skidding and manouvring means I end up in the front lot of another business on the far side of the road.
But, I didn't hit him, and he didn't he me.
He stops. I stop. We both sit there, wondering what to do next. I turn round and pull behind him and get out.
"Man, I didn't see you there as I was pulling out - vision is really bad on that turning, and you were coming so fast."
Never mind. No vehicle was hurt, no person was injured. We went our separate ways, thankful that the road was empty, the weather was good and no-one got hurt.
I'm sitting here, shaking like a leaf now though.
