Maybe, Baby
I enjoy winter driving. Understanding the limitations placed on me and my vehicle by the weather empowers me to enjoy the occasional intentional fishtail, donut, etc. Unfortunately, this understanding is thrust upon us by our first loss of control on the roads.

Last night, coming home from Waterloo, I took the scenic route (fields, forests, country roads and the region's new round-a-bout, instead of the highway). As I approached the one 90 degree turn, I remember thinking that the roads were better than a few days before, so I didn't need to let off the gas too much. Then, just as I began to negotiate the curve, I realized that I was still driving 80 km/h, which would be too fast on a good day. The only option was to keep driving, which I did. I started to think that I would escape the curve without skidding, but then I felt a familiar sensation, the back-end of my car was skidding. Instinctively I tried to correct my steering, and the car swung back in the other direction, but more drastically than the first swing. I had rolled a car before, so I was ready for that to happen again, in fact, I began to expect that to happen. It was weird to accept that I might total my car, or that I might injure myself, but not lose hope. I had no fear of death, but I still had little faith in my capacity to get out of it unscathed.

Magically, after my split-second of deep contemplation and resignation to failure, I straightened myself out. I don't know what I all did correctly, or how well my instincts were trained to handle just such a situation. I don't know how much I deserved to escape unharmed, or how much good driving skill was being exercised. I do know what I should have done, steer into the skid, and step more on the gas (my car is front wheel drive).

Driving away, I could only laugh. I actually enjoyed the experience, not enough to try it again, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I was excited to still be okay, to not have to walk for help, or try to push my car out in the frigid cold, in the late, late hours of the night. I couldn't help but thank God for my deliverance. Was this a sign? I believe that it was. Maybe it means something other than a reminder to drive more slowly. Maybe it should force me to bring other things into question.

If I had wiped out, and damaged myself or the car, I would have likely taken it as a more serious sign. Maybe that means that my interpretations are preset, no matter what the random occurrence is. Then again, maybe this post has too many maybes.

   [ posted by William @ 1:02 PM ]