The walls were closing in on me earlier today and I had to escape. With a few hours before a conference call, I knew I had time for the errands I needed to run. A stop at the drugstore and the bank, knowing I'd have time to drive through the park with my radio blaring on the way home.
I smiled and said thank you to the cashier at Walgreens and also to the teller at the bank.
I took a right turn out of the parking lot and from then on hit every light perfectly.
Which was great except the music wasn't cooperating.
This was playing.
Uh, no.
I hit search and took a right into the park.
Not bad. If I was in the mood to sing. I could turn on my country twang. But, I wasn't in the mood. Plus, all I could think of was some record company making me and Toby Keith do a duet and me and him getting into a huge fight.
I'd have to run over him with my F150 for sure.
I hit search.
To my left, a husky woman in her 50s, wearing a black track suit was walking her german shepherd. He was pulling her forward. She was laughing to herself, trying to keep up. Behind her a young couple was walking and pointing at something in the distance. To the right of the pavilion, there were toddlers running by the swings, their mothers engrossed in conversation, not paying attention.
Never was much of a Tubes fan. Disappointed, I let it play as I rounded the corner near the bridge. The water that ran beneath it was flowing slowly. The trees that surrounded it were aflame in oranges, reds and yellows. A strong wind kicked up and leaves pelted the soccer field as I drove by. Kids ran back and forth and whistles blew and there were mothers pushing strollers and teenagers yelling and punching each other and grandparents waving at them to behave.
There was a couple beneath a huge tree to my right, lying on a blanket. He was leaning over her. She put her arm around his neck. He leaned in closer.
I hit search.
At the stop sign and out of the chaos, I turned right and was the only car on the road. As I drove, the road striped with sunlight, the DJ spoke of fast food deals and upcoming concerts and then finally...
I smiled, turned it up and punched the gas. I drove through the park alone. Through the valley and up and down the hills thinking the only thing that could make it better was if my little two-door had a clutch. I could get away faster.
Shifting into third then fourth and finally fifth as the golden leaves swirled around me in the shadows.
Beautiful post.
Everybody's got a hungry heart, you know.
Posted by: Michael | October 14, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Getting away faster... a common goal.
Posted by: Jennifer | October 15, 2008 at 08:56 AM
This is a really awesome post.
Posted by: Von | October 15, 2008 at 11:05 AM
perfect mini-escape. when I do that it reminds me of being 16 and having my whole life ahead of me.
Posted by: Kathleen | October 15, 2008 at 03:49 PM
This is for all the weak people out there!!!!!!
Man, I love Floyd.
Posted by: Deeples | October 15, 2008 at 04:11 PM
If you ever want to get more songs you like, and you've got a phone/mp3 player that'll do it, try out Pandora Radio. It'll fix you right up.
Posted by: Kay | October 15, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Great post. Can totally relate.
"Man, I love Floyd" from someone named Deeples really struck me as funny.
Mick or Joe, but Deeples:)
Posted by: Skimmer | October 16, 2008 at 02:14 PM
eehhh, forget Pink Floyd.
I'm rockin the abacab at work.
Posted by: rotten mcdonald | October 16, 2008 at 05:56 PM
and totally creepy: using the iTunes genius to make an on the spot playlist, Run Like Hell comes up when I start with abacab.
Maybe I shouldn't have put BG's pretty fall colors picture on my desktop, because now THE CALLS ARE COMING FROM INSIDE MY COMPUTER!@!!!! EEEEAAAARARRRRRRRGGGGH!!!!!
Posted by: rotten mcdonald | October 16, 2008 at 06:27 PM
It's easy to forget, given how easy it is to have a lot of music at one's disposal, how awesome it is when the perfect song comes on the radio at the perfect time.
Great post, BG.
Posted by: Brando | October 17, 2008 at 04:41 PM
how awesome it is when the perfect song comes on the radio at the perfect time.
Exactly, Brando! It's a gift.
Posted by: blue girl | October 17, 2008 at 04:49 PM
A writer who is so much more gifted than I once said:
"If you don't love the song that's playing right now, life's not worth it."
Wish I could remember who said that....
Posted by: rotten mcdonald | October 17, 2008 at 04:56 PM
BP, if you could hear what I'm blaring right now, I think you would beat me up.
Posted by: blue girl | October 17, 2008 at 05:48 PM