Judy's Weblog

Roadtrip

June 30, 2010 at 3:03 pm (Uncategorized)

I have been told that there are days like this – when the cosmos seems to work in concert to frustrate. I have them rarely, being an optimist and skilled at making my own reality flesh. However, today (and this is the second time I have written this since the first draft popped out of existence ten seconds ago) seems to be an exception.

The trouble started this morning when I sat down to check my email as I ate my cereal and blueberries. So far, I was on time. The problem is, I started answering emails rather than focusing on eating, and before long I was running late.

I knew that I would be a few minutes late, but thought I could get away with taking I-74, even though I had been whizzing past “Construction Begins …” signs for two weeks. The bridge repairs were over the eastbound lanes. Besides, I could cut off at St. Joseph if the traffic was slowing considerably by then.

Three minutes past St. Joseph, I knew I had made a tactical error, and as I popped on my hazard lights and slowed to a crawl, I knew that while I would not be here on time, I’d have a good excuse. I even began to feel like I was on a mini American road trip, with the smells of diesel and hot asphalt mixing to create that singular longing for fast food breakfast sandwiches that is strongest when I am on the road. Waxing nostalgic, I realized that I expected the Smoky Mountains to grace the scenery at any time. I had a hankering for souvenirs and hills.

But, alas, this brief interlude into summer freedom was not to last, as I cut off at University Avenue and proceeded to stop behind every red light, every left turner, and even every right lane sightseer on the road between the exit and my parking space. I’ll just have to be patient, I thought. Timeliness is not going to happen today, another, wiser voice added.

With relief, there was no truck blocking the drive to my narrow parking lot, but as I turned the corner, I did see that spot # 6 was already filled. So, heeding the advice of my inner dialogue, I stayed calme, walked around the building, and explained the problem to the maintenance man, who told me that I could park in # 4 for today and he’d talk to the driver of the other car today.

I didn’t see any point in walking fast from my car to the library.