Senior Moments
By Charles P. Eberson
I have been a driver for over 50 years and if I may say, a pretty good one, although there is one guardrail on the Garden State Parkway that may beg to differ. In those years, I have driven cross country twice, driven on the Pacific Coast Highway in California and numerous forays deep into New England. What I have found is that those who are attuned to the road, can sense a certain rhythm to it; a dance if you will. Years ago, we experienced such a dance with a white Jeep Wrangler while heading east through Nebraska. In this Jeep, was a young father and his son in a red baseball hat. Our young children looked over at the Jeep. The baseball hat looked back. We passed a tractor trailer and the Jeep passed the tractor trailer. We passed the Jeep and the Jeep passed us. This continued for hours and it was evident that even though separate, we were all traveling together. We danced down the highway exchanging who would lead and who would follow. It was an unspoken choreography. Eventually, the Jeep ahead put on its right turn blinker and we watched it slow down for the next exit. We briefly pulled alongside and waved. In an instant, we were once again on our own and missing our dance partner. That being said and moving fast forward, my wife and I just finished our second drive down to Florida in a little more than a month. Two consecutive 9 hours days on the unforgiving I-95 is far from a pleasure trip. If a drive can be compared to a dance concert, I-95 from Baltimore to Richmond is akin to the mosh pit at a Slayer concert. My wife is from northern Virginia so we have driven that route more times than I would like to remember but something has definitely changed. 70 MPH is not fast enough anymore even in the slow lane, 75 isn’t even fast enough! Then if you are already doing 80 to pass another vehicle and you are not passing quicky enough, the grill on that jacked up pickup truck is filling your rearview mirror and pulling halfway to the left to make sure he is also filling your side mirror. Those who know me best know this does not work well with me. Add into the mix, the little Fast and Furious wannabes that are driving like they are in a video game; erratically changing lanes in and out at speeds that far exceed the speed limits. While I do not wish anyone harm, well almost anyone, I would be hard pressed to feel compassion for such a driver causing an accident resulting in possible injury/death or heaven forbid the delay of my journey. My wife and I enjoy long drives. We have in depth conversations, listen to podcasts, my Apple music library or sometimes just listen to the hum of the highway. But on this return trip from Florida, we are not giving I-95 the satisfaction. Before Richmond we are making the turn towards Lewes, Delaware and looking forward to a cruise back to New Jersey on the ferry. As far as Washington, the Beltway and Baltimore; sorry, our dance card is full.
Charles Eberson has been in the newspaper business for over 25 years. He has worked as a writer, advertising executive, circulation manager and photographer. His photography can be viewed at charles-eberson.fineartamerica.com
