Drifting...

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I do drifting in my car. Not the tire spinning burning smoking raceway drifts, at least not intentionally, but mindless mental drifting. To thoughts far away. Watching the rain cascade down on my windshield. Listening to favorite music in my soundproof passenger compartment. Quality time alone. Thinking about past choices in life. Future choices. All the girls I never kissed. Until a bird poop drops on my windshield and yanks me back to reality.

This morning on the way to dropping off Koa at school, I took the Punchbowl on-ramp onto H-1. Right when I emerged from the turn where you have the option of moving to the right lane to take the Pali, a black pick-up truck right in front of me started turning sideways. Then backwards. Then slid violently to the right and hit the cement wall of the overpass. I saw the driver, a young male, thrown halfway out of his driver's window and it looked like he barely missed hitting his head against the cement wall before the truck lurched violently the other way and he was whipped back inside of the cab. Other cars were barreling down behind us as they picked up speed to merge into H-1 traffic.

For a moment, I thought I was going to see a horrific crash as his torso lifted up and out of the truck as it slammed into the side. His front bumper fell off. I stopped the car in the rain and asked him if he was okay. Koa watched everything happen in real time and his eyes were huge. The young tattooed driver flashed me a big smile and shaka and said yes. Then he started trying to back up. Worried I was going to get hit from behind, I proceeded onto the freeway and called 911 to let them know what happened. I think he took off. Maybe no insurance. Maybe not his truck. He was in a hurry to leave the scene. Probably embarrassed.

It was a potent reminder for me that your driving skills may be top notch but the car in front of you can flip out at any given moment. I ensured that Koa was securely fastened by his seatbelt. I think I am going to slow down just a notch tomorrow morning as I take him to school. And keep my eyes wide open...

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