Aimless Driving

I inherited my love of the open road from my father.

After his last divorce, he got rid of the employment agencies he owned, moved to Florida and bought his own Kenworth Semi-truck. He leased to North American trucking and put thousands upon thousands of miles on his rig, driving back and forth across the country. When he quit doing that, he got a VW camper bus and drove back and forth. Dad loved to drive.

And so do I. But, with these ungodly gas prices, I haven't been able to take as many road trips as I'd like.

Today, though, I desperately needed the sound of the tires on pavement and the feeling of movement. It calms me down. Eases my anxiety and cures my restlessness.

I thought I was just going to pop into the neighborhood Starbucks drive-in for an iced Americano. But then, I just kept on driving. Got onto the freeway and headed south. Drove past downtown, past the airport and past the county line. Made it 62 miles before I turned the car around and headed home, with a much lighter dispositon and gas tank. I didn't mind the stop-and-go gridlock as I drove back North. I gazed at the passing scenery and waved at the black dogs in the backs of pick-up trucks. Read and re-read the bumper stickers (Real men love Jesus) and the back of the Allied Van Lines truck.

This is such a weird phase in my life. Making just enough money to get by, as long as I can put my college loans on hold. Stressing out about my part time job and whether I am living up to expectations. Liking working at home and hating it as well. Almost past child-bearing age. Pretty sure I'll never get married. Not sure I'll ever be able to make enough money to afford a better apartment - one with its own kitchen where I can have another kitty!

Drive drive drive drive.