Enjoying The Ride
“We drive into the future using only our rearview mirror.”
“The problems we face today eventually turn into blessings in the rearview mirror of life.”
Man, what a month it’s been. I’ll admit, I haven’t gotten around to much writing lately, but sometimes in life, we hit some speed bumps. No one died or anything. If anything, the overall health of everyone in my circle has improved (aside from some allergies some of nephews and niece had.) If anything, the only thing giving me a headache recently were car issues. But it made me realize how grateful I am where I’m at in life.
See, in 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, not only toilet paper was scarce for a time, but also cars. Living in rural Minnesota, sometimes I feel like we’re like the characters in Mad Max. The car is something to be worshiped in a way. Without it, you’re stuck (aside from some church-based organizations or ride from a buddy or brother.) There’s no Uber, few buses (like a couple, but I don’t know how reliable they are. I seldom see one. The only one I knew of shutdown in 2022).
So in 2021, when my truck, a 1999 Ford Ranger, was literally giving up on me as I limped it home, I knew it was time to go to the dealership. Thankfully, there was road construction, so taking the backway was the only way. Jess and I took it slow and with each few feet, it felt worse and worse. Imagine riding a unicycle but with an oval tire and with just as much control riding it for the first time. Anyway, we made it, and even though it took all day, we left with a new-to-us 2013 Ford Edge SEL with 165,000 miles on it. We could make car payments, but things were tight. Then, I found a better paying job, Jess wrapped up school, and we could finally breathe so much easily.
Well, fast-forward to just last week, I just learned that Ford Edge was on it’s last leg. Back to the dealership we went, and this time, we got something not only from this century but from this decade with less than 35,000 miles on it. A 2022 Ford Edge SEL. So nice, I got it twice. And I thought about the last time I was there, feeling like we were pinching pennies, and just getting by. Now, here I was with keys in hand, pushing the start button on my new car, something not foreign to me in concept but was new in practice. Sure, the car payment was more, but instead of feeling this obligation and dread, I felt excited. A newer-to-us car that drives smooth and can get us from point A-Z.
I looked in the rearview mirror of where I was then, and where I am now, and looking forward to all the miles we have to go. There’s this PC game I like called Keep Driving where you drive a car to get to a concert. And on your trip, you’ll encounter things from fixing your car, managing money and gas, dealing with all the hazards on the road. But you also enjoy the ride, meet interesting characters, and reflect on your life through the journey and experiences.
Anyway, I don’t think I have to break down how this reflects with my writing life, but I will.
I’m thankful I can write despite everything life throws at me. I’m thankful I can keep driving forward and look in the rearview mirror and realize how fortunate I am. To have friends and family there to help me with advice like my brother following me home after the truck started having issues to loaning me his truck at one point. My dad coming up to college, an hour and a half away to replace brake-lines in an old Mercury that never left that town. My late brother picking my sister and I after a 10 mile walk to the next town over after we realized we didn’t have the will or strength to walk the 10 miles back. My oldest brother helping with brakes and oil changes. My sister taking me for car rides to the store. My mom taking us garage saling to the tunes of 70s and 80s classic rock.
With all the headaches with cars, accidents, breakdowns, and expenses, there are good things too. I’d love to not drive every day, but it’s an easy way to start an adventure. In that way, it’s a lot like writing. And when you realize how far you have come, it’s easier to keep going. And if you feel like you haven’t gotten very far, you can look into the distance and find your way there to something new, profound, and worst-case scenario, a quick pit-stop to your true destination.
