The Runaway Bride
AKA: How the Knight in the Shinning Palomino Rescued the Maiden on Her Voyage
Day 1. Like a reluctant bride who has cold feet the morning of her wedding, I woke up the morning I was set to embark on my solo road trip from Virginia to Massachusetts and didn’t want to go. My driving phobia had gotten the better of me. Nearly paralyzed with anxiety at the thought of driving on interstates for 14 hours alongside 18 wheeler tractor trailers acting like sports cars, I was prepared to cancel all the plans I had made with friends and family. I was feeling like a bride about to give back wedding presents when my husband, Joe, came to the rescue.
He, who doesn’t have an ounce of driving phobia, considered it an adventure to take a couple of days off work, drive me to Mass, fly back home, and then fly back to drive me home again 3 weeks later. I was stunned! That Joe’s idea was a possibility, took some time to sink in, but the more I thought about it, the better I started feeling.
When I told my mother and a few close friends about the change in plans, no one was surprised. Knowing me, they were more surprised that I had intended to drive the truck and camper to Massachusetts in the first place.
I don’t like speed. I don’t ski. I’m the kind of person who rides the brakes while going downhill on my bicycle. I like simple plans and small towns. Rushing down a highway at 75 miles an hour with a bunch of other people doing the same is about as out of context in my life as piloting a plane. I suspect that the pace of life so many of us have come to accept as normal really isn’t.
Joe reminded me how well I’d been doing lately managing my recovery from Chronic Fatigue. “You don’t have the stores of energy it takes to sustain a couple of days of stress. I’d hate to see you suffer a set back,” he said. He put on shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, threw some things in the back of the camper, and we headed out. For my part of the bargain, I helped him cram for an upcoming test for his last counseling class before graduation by reading out loud from his textbook.
Day 2. Typing on a lap top from our pit stop at Joe’s brother’s house in Connecticut, my voice is a little horse from all that out loud reading, but overall I feel relaxed! Thanks, Joe!
Post Note: Can’t have too many of these, especially on road trips:
1. Pens
2. Reading glasses
3. Jaw clips for my hair
4. Containers full of good Floyd County water
July 2nd, 2005 1:42 pm
Hi! Michele sent me, but I’m a frequent lurker on my own accord. I too suffer driving phobias and kudos to you for even thinking of attempting such a thing! And what a great husband! And yay for simple needs 🙂 My philosphy too. Have a great trip 😛
July 2nd, 2005 10:44 pm
Oh Colleen… my husband is CONSTANTLY telling me to relax my grip on the steering wheel. But if I’m not hanging on to it tightly, how do I steer/stay in control/avoid that crazy idiot who might decide to swerve into my lane without warning?
I remember one particular episode of driving through the St. Louis area… I thought I was going to die. I had to pull over and make my husband drive. I am convinced that the farther east one goes, the more aggressive the drivers get. I think nothing of California drivers. I’m more afraid of Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania drivers!!!!
July 3rd, 2005 2:03 am
Hi Colleen. I came here from Fred’s a few days ago and have really enjoyed reading your blog. This is the first comment I’ve made on any blog, but felt compelled because I SO relate to the driving phobia thing. I’m sure I never would have even planned to make the drive you were thinking about. Luckily I also have a husband who is very accommodating … he’s definitely the designated driver in the family and is willing to go out of his way so that I don’t have to do the kind of driving that makes me nuts! Enjoy your trip!
July 3rd, 2005 6:55 am
Isn’t he a nice guy! It’s great that he decided to ferry you north, Colleen. I think he’s a keeper. Enjoy your trip!
July 3rd, 2005 9:16 am
My mother has the same phobia. For some reason I find compassion for you, but get impatient with her. hmmm…
He’s an absolute sweety to do that for you.
July 3rd, 2005 12:11 pm
Okay, I’ll try that again (accidentally hit the post button — butterfingers).
Gallagher, the man who first introduced the sledgehammer to the watermelon, used to be fond of saying how he’d like to take one of his tires and wrap it AROUND the car, like a bumper car at the fairgrounds. That way, if someone was creeping into your lane — BAM!
July 3rd, 2005 12:14 pm
Okay, maybe I didn’t hit the post button (didn’t recognize the preview function). Now I just feel stupid. In any event, I’ll just say Michele sent me — both times.
July 3rd, 2005 4:14 pm
You ae welcome to sit on the floor and type all you want here!
Love Chrissie
July 3rd, 2005 7:11 pm
That is so sweet that he would do that for you! Hope you enjoy your trip!
July 4th, 2005 12:37 pm
what a guy!! i dont think my hubby would go for something like that at all….sigh
July 4th, 2005 6:48 pm
I told Joe the night I called my parents and was stunned to hear his voice that I was so happy he did this for my sister. I had anxiety just thinking about her making that trip! I said that I’d just as soon pluck every single one of my toe nails out – one by one – than make that trip alone. As somebody who also dislikes highway driving and maps, I was so very grateful to Joe for taking such a heavy stressful load off my sister. xo
March 22nd, 2014 3:52 pm
[…] My readers don’t need to know that I have city driving anxiety, that I’m sometimes more comfortable wearing boy’s clothing, that my husband and I have the […]
May 15th, 2014 10:50 am
[…] My readers don’t need to know that I have city driving anxiety, that I’m sometimes more comfortable wearing boys clothes, that my husband and I have the same IQ […]