Ranting

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.