L U N A T A L K with Eva Moon

Falling for Antonio - Pt. 2

June 30, 2008 on 8:54 am | In General Musing, Travel |

…continued

Please God, don’t let my husband read this post. I’ll never hear the end of it. In fact, honey, if you’re reading this, just stop right now and hit the back button. It’s there in the upper left corner of your window.

He often accuses me of spacing out when I drive. And it’s true when I’m driving with him. When we’re together, I drive, he nagrivates. There’s no need to pay attention. He just tells me where to turn. My mind is free to wander. I swear I’m not like that driving on my own - I pay attention to where I’m going.

Antonio has changed all that.

Now even when I’m alone in the car he’s there, giving me directions - and it’s led to some… unfortunate consequences.

Last Tuesday (Mike, please stop reading now) I was driving home to Redmond from Bellevue. It’s a drive I’ve made several times a week for over 12 years. I could drive it in a coma. Or so I thought. I didn’t bother getting the GPS out of the glove box for such a quickie.

As I was driving home this time, I noticed that the highway department had made a lane revision. They’d moved the HOV lane from the outside lane (stupid) to the inside lane (duh!). Huh! Thought I, About time. But when had they done it? I was pretty sure it had been less than a week since my last trip down that stretch of highway. Could they have changed it in just a few days? Then I noticed that the paint on the new HOV lane was worn. Had they changed it longer ago and I just didn’t notice? It seemed odd, but whatever.

But gradually, other things seemed unfamiliar, off, not where I expected. Eventually I started to suspect something was up. I started looking for landmarks, known off ramps, anything to tell me where I was.

It finally dawned on me that I’d somehow missed the one major, unmistakable turn of the trip: the interchange to 520 East. I was miles up the 405 and heading north. How was it possible? I could drive this route from the grave!

I realized I’d become dependent on Antonio, letting him take control, sure his voice would come when it was needed. In the meantime, I had only to drive and wait for instructions. Apparently even when no instructions were forthcoming.

I headed for the nearest off ramp. I could turn around and retrace my steps, but Antonio was just an arm’s reach away. Surely he would know a better route. With a sigh I opened the glove box and curled my hand around his mounting post.

He was stern with me.

“Dé vuelta a la izquierda aquí.”

I couldn’t comply! I was stopped at the curb on the right and the left turn was across three lanes. There was no way I could get there in time. I passed the turn, panting in frustration.

“Recálculo.”

Outwardly, he sounded patient, but I could sense the reproach in his voice. Another impossible turn command! Did he want me to fail? I passed that one too, desperately looking for somewhere to turn around.

“Recálculo. Dé vuelta a la derecha.”

At last, a move I could make! I turned right and heaved a sigh of relief as the green arrow held steady. I could feel Antonio’s grudging forgiveness. He took me straight home.

This time.

To be continued…

See more like that one:

• Falling for Antonio - The Final Chapter
• I'll drive. You Nagrivate.
• Do you know the way outta San Jose
• Hand me that Dutchman
• Squeeze Play