I have an issue. I REALLY HATE East Coast roads. I grew up in the West. I learned to drive in the West. They have W I D E roads. Not only do they have wide roads they have large shoulders on the roads (so if you need to pull over you CAN!) Their roads are also straight and tend to run North/South, East/West. It is a beautiful thing and something I totally took for granted until I moved East. I remember when I first moved here. My husband picked me up from the airport and drove me home and I literally thought we were going to die. The road was narrow, windy, twisty and people were driving 80 miles an hour.
I did become accustomed to the roads eventually. Then a few years ago I was RUN OFF the road by somebody who was in a big stinking hurry and tried to pass the car in front of them on a solid yellow line. The problem was that I was coming in there direction. I side swiped the utility pole sitting 4 feet off the road instead of hitting the car head on. I had a few aches and pains and some bruises and some pelvic problems for a years or so, but I still had my life and that of my daughter who was in the back seat.
The thing is that combined with the nasty roads has caused a phobia. Some days are not so bad other days (when I'm tired) it is horrible. My older kids give me a hard time and my husband is to the point he won't drive if I'm in the car because I totally flip out. It is pretty bad sometimes. I know it is insane but I'm convinced that they are all out to get me and want my lane to the point of putting my life and those with me in jeopardy.
Yesterday, Kameron and I went to get his drivers permit. EEKS! He then convinced me, like only Kameron can, to let him DRIVE with me in the car! He didn't do too bad actually. Well after I kicked him out of the drivers seat we headed home on one of the worst roads around our area. Guess what? there was an accident near our housing development. It wasn't bad, just a fender bender. Actually one of the cars was totaled I'm sure. But everyone looked to be ok. So we continued on. Then we went to the movies last night, on the way home guess what? There was another accident. We came upon it before the police. In fact the police car zoomed in and parked directly in front of me. On a side note the lights on those vehicles is enough to cause an accident, it took me a good 5 minutes to be able to see again without blue and red spots. That one was pretty bad, they took down the utility pole that was sitting 4 feet off the road. Then to top off the evening I had a take a detour that had me on a road that was made east coast style and that it snaked back and forth so bad that one of my kids got sick. THEN this morning I took Kameron to work and guess what? Yep! there was an accident. Again it was just a fender bender. But STILL!! within a 24 hour period I have seen 3 accidents.
I am ready to stay home and cover up my head and never head out again. What are people thinking???? We have insanely put together roads (who designs them anyway?!?!) and then insane people who push the limits to get some where 3 seconds faster at the cost of someones life!
OK I'm going to get off my soap box. If you have made it this far in my little post I congratulate you. I'm sure it was pretty lame reading. I also thank you and ask that you pray for me in this phobia. There are days I think I'm going to have a panic attack trying to get to the store.
6 years ago
5 comments:
You don't have to stay home - just start drinking when you are out of the house - just kidding!
I know what you mean though - here in TX there are large, fully paved shoulders in both directions on everything but back roads. It is nice. However, the other side to that is that they are like that because it is a hurricane evacuation route! If we ever have to use it - I'm not stopping until I get to WV.
(So I'm saying, pray for a hurricane!)
I'm completely with you on this. I can't stand the twists and turns and usually get really nauseous and it's worse in the summer. The only positive thing about the roads is what's is at the end of those roads, Friends!!!
I'm right there with ya! Oh, and don't forget that folks out west know how to label the roads, the exits the what-have-yous. What's with this having 12 names for the same road? OH...and TRAFFIC lights on a road called a HIGHWAY??? Sheesh. Californians are crazy, but at least they've got the road thing down...
Guess you didn't want to be a race car driver when you grew up like I did. Seriously.
I remember my Aunt moving east when I was 15 and asking me what the roads were like. Having grown up in New York, and not knowing anything else, I told her they were fine, not too winedy...poor thing. Our roads up there are like a car and a half wide, and so winedy you can't see around the next corner or hilly you can hill hop easy. She of course was not ready for such a change coming from Colorado. To me they were normal. To be honest I kind of miss it. There are times I'll tell Carey "on this road I feel like I'm in NY", and that's exactly why. Must be a bit of that rebel in me, but I understand having to put your trust in others being a scary thing. Especially at the expense of the safety of your loved ones.
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