driving Archives - Debbie's Reflection

My Morning Commute

I am an independent contractor working from home. Every once in a while I go to my client’s office. It never occurred to me to observe my surroundings as I did one particular morning. I stayed in the slow lane to take it all in. Here’s my story.

During my morning commute, I left my windows down. Not because I wanted to, but because my vehicle’s a/c stopped working, so I did not have a choice. It was alright; I didn’t mind though. It was the early fall season, so the weather was not hot. At 7:30 in the morning, it was nice outside. I took in nature and enjoyed it. The smell of morning dew, the aroma of freshly mowed grass (until I approach the maintenance guy with the mower spewing the odor of gasoline), the cricket’s screech through the dense grassy areas, the bird’s early morning chirping, and the fresh breeze that hit my face while driving on Highway 27. I love nature!

My Observation on Humankind

Every time I reached the stoplights, I found mostly the same vehicles and drivers. I glanced around from car to car to observe humankind. The young lady smacking her lips together as she put on her lipstick, a well-suited man sipping his coffee in a travel mug (I suppose it was coffee but maybe it wasn’t), the couple eating their breakfast, a young man yawning (probably didn’t sleep well or was hungry), about 6 or 7 people on their cell phones, a woman who appeared to be arguing on the phone. I wonder what upset her so much that made her face beet red? Three truckers blocking all lanes. The mom trying to comfort the crying child.

Then there was the texter texting away at the stoplights while the impatient driver behind her honks his horn 1/8 of a second after the light turns green. I think his hand was already on the horn, ready to blast it. Heck, I think he honked even before the light turned green, not at me but at the texter.

My Favorite Character

Ah, but my favorite character was the one I saw through my rearview mirror. The young man in the green Honda driving erratically, cutting in front of everyone from one lane to the other and blasting his music. I wondered why he was in such a rush. His desperation did not do much because somehow I caught up with him at the light and I didn’t even go the speed limit! Remember, I was in the slow lane. I guess he liked to be the first at the stoplight. The light turned green, and he sped up past everyone else just to be standing at the next light for a more extended period than the rest of us. Does he not realize that? Lucky for him that the police officer we passed was too busy giving out a ticket to another desperate driver.

I continued my drive observing humankind and their acts while still glimpsing the erratic Honda lunatic swerving left and right, speeding through traffic blasting his music. Then I finally reached my left turn. Just five more minutes and three more stoplights ’til I arrive. That was a pleasant drive. Suddenly I realized that the lunatic in the green Honda has turned down his music and was one car in front of me. He was turning into the department store parking lot. What do you know, I didn’t even have to speed, and we arrived at his destiny at the same time. I’m not sure about him, but I learned that speeding will not get me there any faster. Lol! Sending lots of love, light, and peace to you, my dear lunatic. Maybe we’ll meet again sometime.

My Weekly Commute

Once a week I travel to my place of employment for our weekly staff meeting and lunch. I work in Orlando, Florida a little less than 30 miles from home (29.7 miles to be exact). Commuting is a hassle for me since I don’t enjoy driving. Therefore, I am always in search of alternate routes – even if I have to pay tolls – to make commuting more comfortable.

Things Don’t Always Go My Way

My feelings weren’t any different this week. I was feeling a bit under the weather so I left work before lunch at about 1:28 p.m. I figured I’d be home by 2:10 in the afternoon at the latest. Since there is construction on the Interstate 4 – also known as I4, (when is there never construction on I4), I had to take a detour to the interstate entrance. It was already congested so my first thought was to exit at the East-West Expressway (408) and take that route home. But I quickly realized that was not a good idea when I saw there was congestion on 408 as well. So, I decided to stay on I4. I figured that if I was going to be stuck in traffic then might as well stay on the route without tolls.

No Relief In Sight

The traffic congestion was so insane that my speedometer never went past 6 mph! According to construction signs, there were two closed lanes further ahead. “This is a nightmare,” I thought and once I saw the John Young Pkwy exit I felt a sense of relief! “I can take that route home too!” I thought. Once on John Young Pkwy, the first two to three miles flowed freely and then it happened. All of a sudden, we were no longer moving. And with the stop lights, it was worse than I4! My speedometer was between 3 and 4 mph. What now?

There’s Traffic Everywhere!

While speaking with my husband on the phone (hands-free of course), he suggested I take Central Florida Pkwy and cut through International Drive. So, as soon as I reached Central Florida Pkwy and saw that there was no congestion, I made a right and continued driving. Finally, I’ll make it home! I reached International Drive and made my turn. What a bummer. Traffic congestion again, what could it be?

A Lesson Learned

This time it was a dump truck and huge commercial landscape equipment blocking all three lanes. Luckily, that didn’t last long and in less than 10 minutes I was back on my merry way home. Once on the Osceola Pkwy and crossing the I4 overpass, I looked towards the I4 and realized there was no more traffic congestion. I laughed and thought, “Had I stayed on I4 I would’ve probably been home by now.” I finally made it safely home at 3:30 p.m. A ride that should’ve taken me no more than 40 minutes took me 2 hours – exactly why I don’t enjoy driving. Next time I’ll just “chill” in traffic.