Yipe...

May 1, 2002

I used make fun of people who drive fast in the rain, and forget to turn on their headlights. "Northern California people don't know what to do when water falls from the sky."

Monday I got up at 5am, rushed out the house because it was really 6am, jumping to my car and speed down the I-580 to get to work. The rain splattered on the windshield and I curse the slow moving mini-van in my lane.

I passed the sucker, and sped down the Fruitvale off-ramp. The light turned red, and I eased on the brakes.

It was just like that recurring nightmare where you put on the brakes but you are still moving. You are staring at the red stoplight thinking, "Why aren't I stopping? This can't be real."

And then I hear myself yelling, "Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!" as my car is fishtailing and skidding through the intersection.

My next thought? "I just ran a red light. I hope no cops are around."

Then..."Oh, wait. I might get hit by a car," followed by "I might hit someone."

My last thought is both my driver's ed teacher and my roommate saying "When you are skidding, pump the brakes."

I'm safe. Stopped right in the middle of the intersection, the red stoplight glaring down at me. The mini-van is way way back at the beginning of the off-ramp, slowly crawling down the hill. There are no other cars on the road.

I should make an offering to the automobile gods soon...