Shamefully, I drive too fast.
The day long conference that I attended today, called Peanut Butter, Pearls and Politics ended at 4:00pm. I had it in my head that I could stop at Nutter's for my Greens Formula and be home by 4:30. (from doorstep to doorstep is 30km through city, freeway and then town) Once I hit the highway, if traffic and roads are clear I can make it to the city in about 15 minutes when necessary.
As I left the city, I heard Tim Day on KG commenting on the traffic conditions. He used words like "wierd" and "what's happening out there?" There was usual summer construction congesting the highway and traffic was plugged for a few slow miles, both main and secondary highways.
As traffic ground to a halt, I glanced nervously at the clock, 4:08... argh. I missed my kids. I wanted to get home. There were 11,000 vehicles in every direction around me and my speedometer read 22km/hr.
We inched along and ahead several hundred meters, I could see small sportscars zipping back and forth between lanes, making their way through the clog, pissing everybody off. The impatience was building. It was an energy you could feel. Stuck, jammed, clogged, angry energy.
Zing! Brainwave.
As I approached the Hiway 11 overpass to Sylvan Lake I called my husband and said, "Don't worry, but I am going to be late, there is a huge mess of a traffic jam on the highway. Hiway 2A East is backed up so I am going to head west, miss all this traffic and beat EVERYbody home!"
Na na na na na na! I am a genuis. I divert from the jam and pick up speed as I exit the freeway. 4:13. I am smart. You are dumb, I sing. Ha ha ha ha ha ha! I practically thumb my nose at them as I circle around and drive west over the overpass.
About three km in, I see a range road sign and signal right to turn. I will be home in no time. Watch me go. I can't believe no one else has thought of this. Damn I'm good. Traffic heading west is thick, but I am going to drive the gravel road, come out on Aspelund and cut back to the highway.
What?!?! No Exit. Crap.
You have got to be kidding me. I screech to a gravelly halt, cursing.
I do a three point turn in the middle of the road and jam my foot on the gas. I may have just cost myself several minutes with the mistake.
I successfully turned back onto the highway and resumed full speed, and for the next two range roads, slowed slightly to check for No Exit signs.
Dang it. There too.
By this time I've travelled at least 8 or 10 km - halfway to Sylvan Lake, heading West not North. Sonofabitch.
Ding.
Gas light.
You have got to be kidding me.
I can get at least 25k on fumes. Argh - I WILL get my way.
Next range road sign I see has GOT to be the road. Aha. No yellow sign that I can see... this is my turn. HOME here I come.
I make the right turn and pick up speed and think - maybe this is my lucky day! The sun is shining, the road was free and clear and the pastureland and animals made for a pleasant view.
What do you mean no thru traffic? And why wasn't this sign back 2.5km? I stop at the railway tracks and gaze down the gulley where the road disappeared through the trees.
Choice: freak out or turn around and make my way back to the highway - or do both. 4:33.
As a near the highway - YET AGAIN... I noticed traffic has started to pick up. I've just used another 8 or so km of my fuel fumes and Sylvan Lake holds the closet gas station.
So I screech onto the tarmac, lay the pedal down and begin to make my way to the nearest gas station - what is the point in this lesson?!?! What am I supposed to be learning here?
The Esso station has six cars, one at every pump. Just my luck. On the radio, Tim continues to reprimand drivers and beg people on the highway to be sensible. Bunch of damn nuts, I think, realizing I too, fit the label of freaky Alberta QE2 driver.
At 4:47 I find myself at the fourway intersection with a diet Coke and a bag of cheese curls - highly frustrated with myself, but resigned to a calm and sensible jaunt home across country. At 5:08 I successfully merged onto the home stretch of highway - at 5:18 I was in the grocery store parking lot. And at 5:34 I was home.
One hour and thirty four minutes after leaving my conference to drive 30 measly kilometres.
Welcome to MeVille, population one nutbar.
I recognized that quite often I approach my entire life the way I approached the traffic jam and the journey home.
I started out going to fast for the conditions and was prepared to force my way as needed. When it appeared clear that I would be facing challenges for a good long while, that would require patience, persistence and follow through, I decided to forgo the hard stuff and look for an easier way around. The easier road appeared to be the slick answer initially.... that is until I met with dead end after dead end... and eventually with an empty gas tank ready to have a melt down.
Only when I relented to the reality that there would be no super fast and easy way to get what I wanted, did the trip get easier... and much less stressful.
There's the lesson.
In driving and in life, the easy road, while tempting, is often the most painful way to go. The hard road, indeed harder... requiring patience and perseverence... looks more challenging - sometimes impossible! However, if you make the choice to stay the course, be patient and trudge along, it is always the better road to travel.