January 17, 2005
Black Ice
Well, I tried to go to the doctor today. My cold isn't getting much better. If anything, it seems to have moved from my nose to my entire head. I woke up this morning feeling crummy and decided well, I suppose I should give in and visit the clinic. I assumed the roads would be semi-safe since they've had a few days to plow them....so I set off on my journey to get drugs to kill the bugs invading my sinus cavities.
Oh ho...I made it not even 1.5 miles from my house when I thought I lost the transmition in my car. It took me a moment to realize that as I shifted into higher gear, my poor little car was sliding across traffic. Apparently there was black ice on the road... Whoops....so, I maintained a safe 30mph over the bridge while people flipped me off as they passed me. Excuse me for not having snow tires! Excuse me for not having GOOD tires....Sheesh...
So, as I proceeded forward, worried about my car, worried about ice, worried about my health, I realized that my nose wasn't running nor was I coughing. So, using deductive reasoning, I decided that if I wasn't as sick as I thought I was and needed to go home before I became stranded or in an accident. I got off the highway and cut through town, where my poor car slid at the intersections. I wasn't the only one though. A truck in front of me nearly did a 360 while changing lanes. Another person slid through an intersection. I was beginning to wonder if cutting through town was a good idea.
I made it off the main roads in town, and took the streets over by where I work. There's not as much traffic over there as in the middle of town. I thought I'd stop by and visit with my boss for minute to tell him I may not be able to make it work tomorrow, since I plan on going to the doctor if the roads are better (It's suppose to be 50 degrees tomorrow), but the sneakly little devil wasn't there! I imagine he was smart and stayed home....
So I continued home, making a big loop that took me about an hour...a trip that under normal circumstances would take probably 15 to 20 minutes....I didn't go home right away though, as I came back into my small, backwater little town. No, I figured I'm make my trip worth while, so I stopped at the local store and bought some Halls, gum, and Sprite with hopes that I would live through another day...
I made it home in one piece, which is a relief, though I still worry about my little car. Not surprising though, the minute I get back in the house, my nose starts to run, my hands get clamy, and I cough....
Maybe I should just move outside....
So anyway...I feel like I deserve a treat for my bravery and smart decisions...as well as for the misery I've been put through these past four days....
photo from (AFP/Paco Serinelli)