When I wake up for the day, I have an idea of what I want to accomplish. Before the day arrives, I plan and prepare as much as I can. I have found that no amount of preemptive measures can withstand the unpredictable man-made nature of driving.
1. Riding solo.
Having the car to yourself can be an empowering sense of freedom. The radio is yours to tune-in to or to turn off. The directions are yours to choose. To have this control is also just as overwhelming with all these other drivers nearby. First-time drivers know the burning ears they get when their parent is not there to tell them how to react behind the wheel. After a while, driving becomes your source of confidence, the car a sanctuary where you can put your mind on cruise control.
2. Passenger payload.
Backstreet drivers wish they could show you how much better they handle a car. What they are not considering is the amount of responsibility and patience it takes to drive. Control makes or breaks a car ride. For the passenger, it can be relaxing to hang back and be chauffeured wherever you want. For the driver, the company can keep you motivated enough to make a long drive a good time. If you're carpool's overflowing, don't rock the boat.
3. Traffic far and wide.
At one time or another, cars line up for a path to their destination but are met by traffic. The only thing more mysterious than endless traffic is the moment it dissipates for no reason. In the morning, everyone seems to have left the house at the same time. People have the right idea to get lunch before or after rush hour, but unlike the weather, there is no predicting the roads. Best to get comfortable and park that car of yours, this might be a while.
4. Open road.
Having the road to yourself, even for ten minutes, feels like a victory lap. You passed the reckless drivers, the radio-heads causing earthquakes with their speakers, and the road-hogging ilk. Now you can have a nice, smooth cruise on your way down the street. Take in the scenery before it passes you by. No hurry, no delays, nothing but you and your current drive.
5. Got gas?
Unless you have a car that runs on electricity, you and your ride will be taking a pit-stop to fill up on gasoline. Gas prices are outlandish and change faster than you can notice. Getting a full tank can be costly when you know you should not buy that extra Milky Way chocolate bar for "just in case" too. Why cannot cars be driven with our feet like The Flintstones? Probably because we like to connect to the past only to use it up like a fossil fuel and wait until it is too late where there is nothing left but the inevitable... Happy trails!
Driving can be an office on wheels, a mobile prison, or a rolling rock that gathers all the moss it can. If you go for a drive, make it a good one.
