On The Road, part I

With the volume slow at work, I checked-out early (4:30PM) thinking I'd beat everyone to the roads home. Normally, I don't drive home until 6-6:30PM and even then, it's busy ... but nothing compared to what I saw at 4:30PM yesterday!

I'll chalk it up to being very misinformed of the exact mass of people "working" those tough 7-4 hours. Yeah, that must it (!)

Seeing this chaos of single-occupied cars, it becomes less difficult to believe that in the wake of our society's fortuitous run of economic prosperity, we've become larger consumers than we have producers.

Sitting in this eye-piercing traffic, I watch with maximum agitation as my satellite radio console wavers maniacally from a display of 'Acquiring' to 'No signal'. I power it off and on (with my fist), but it proudly defies me though it were animate and able to give me the finger. Something about going East in the Valley, I can't make sense of it.

I know I won't bear it much longer, sensing the onset of a brain hemorrhage from the flood of poorly navigated cars, choking heat and a world class density of pace.

I veer all the way right, preferring to cut-off a woman on cell phone in a Honda Element (Triple Crown if there ever was one!) over a lovely blonde playing w/her gum in a hot red Eclipse (I am, after all, still civilized).

I accelerate towards the exit like I'm about to get the yellow jersey, targeting a convenience store while contemplating the weight of cracking my no-smoking streak (of 6 months) to help combat the anxiety of the moment, and the prospect of yet another hour in the car.

Call it divine or demonic intervention, but as I'm about to screech into the chic Circle K, I'm hit smack in the face with the biggest billboard you've ever seen for Casino Arizona.

And just like that, the marquee in my head changed from "Camel light, soft pack", to "What's the wait on the 15/30?"

What's interesting with this pseudo, 'born-again experience' was my sudden and complete indifference to the far greater levels of congestion through which I ultimately crept in order to reach my altered destination.

I text-message SuperGirl, letting her know that I'll be 'working overtime' and to expect me late, or early if things go well. She gives me her SuperBlessing, replying as follows:

"Good luck, baby, and take y/time. 3 episodes of Desperate Housewives on TIVO to watch."

Can I get an Amen?

And wouldn't you know it, the minute I found Jesus on that Billboard, so too did my satellite signal, keeping its faith strong as we headed north, into what proved the ICU ward of traffic, but thankfully, in the direction of Casino Arizona.