On Driving

I grew up in a fairly industrial midwestern city. I lived close to most everything. And that which required motored transport was invariably convenient to public transportation. And I was poor. So getting a car was never really something I felt compelled to do as a teenager.

When I was 18, I bought a bike. A real bike, one that could be ridden several miles at a time, at a fairly decent rate of speed. And I liked riding it to places I needed to go. And still, I felt no need to get a car, or even a license.

It was not until I met Kristi, who lived 25 miles away, that the value of a car was impressed upon me. So with newfound motivation, I went ahead and got my drivers license. I was 22.

Now, one thing that you get from riding a bicycle through rush hour traffic on a regular basis is a very deep appreciation for how that traffic works. You come to understand what the different types of drivers are, and to recognize them immediately. Your life often depended on it. Your reflexes and vision must be far superior to anything possessed by a typical driver. Or you could be dead.

I did that for 4 years. I got pretty good.

So once I started driving, that vision, those reflexes, didn't just go away. The rock solid calves and mammoth quads, those went away. But the vision remained. So I would do things in a car that scared the shit out anyone riding with me (and still do). It's always because they don't see what I see. They don't know what I know.

Of course, there isn't much room for error on my part. On a bike, there was no room for it. All it takes is another driver reacting unexpectedly to cause a wreck. And now that I have responsibilty, I'm finding I need to slow down. To not be concerned about getting from A to B as quickly as possible. To not lust after the throaty roar of 4K rpm. Or accelerate through corners. Or..and this hurts..to speed.

I'm finding it very difficult to change. It was almost easier learning to be nice to people. I'm having to change my view of the road. Let go of obsolete objectives. Abandon a well-honed skill. Kill a thrill.

I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of money at Adventure Landing. I'm gonna need a lot of time in therap..er..go karts.

Posted by danisaacs at December 19, 2002 09:18 AM